Sheila Kearney Davidson is Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of New York Life Insurance Company. In addition to leading the company’s legal operations, she also oversees its compliance, governance and governmental affairs functions.
Ms. Davidson joined New York Life in 1991 and has served in many leadership positions in legal, compliance and administrative areas. She was appointed to New York Life’s Executive Management Committee in January 2001.
Ms. Davidson is a member of the New York State Bar. She serves on the boards of Fairfield University, Madison Square Park Conservancy, the Citizens Budget Commission and the Life Insurance Council of New York. She is a frequent speaker on topics such as legal and compliance best practices and diversity.
In 2018, the New York City Bar Association honored Ms. Davidson with their Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award. In 2016, the National Law Journal named Ms. Davidson one of America’s 50 Outstanding General Counsel citing her commitment to diversity. She is the founding executive sponsor of The Women’s Initiative, New York Life’s Employee Resource Group that connects and empowers women across the company.
Ms. Davidson graduated cum laude from Fairfield University with a B.A. She received her J.D. from George Washington University.