COLUMBUS, Ga., Feb. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) announced today that Richard L. Gilbert has been named senior vice president and chief digital information officer, reporting to Virgil R. Miller, executive vice president, chief operating officer, Aflac U.S.; president, Aflac Group. In this newly created role, Gilbert will oversee the new Digital Innovation office and will be responsible for driving Aflac's IT strategy.

Gilbert brings to Aflac more than 26 years of experience in the technology field. Prior to joining Aflac, he was vice president of Business Enablement and IT Service Management at DXC Technology, responsible for the company's digital transformation of the IT landscape and integrating legacy platforms, in addition to developing technology strategy and leading the system integration of multiple company mergers. He was vice president of Infrastructure and Operations Enterprise Services with Hewlett Packard Enterprise; vice president and chief information officer, Infrastructure and Operations for Hewlett Packard; and he previously held senior leadership positions at SunTrust Bank, including senior vice president and chief technology officer.

Gilbert earned a bachelor's degree from Auburn University and a Master of Business Administration from University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. He is also a CIO 100 Award honoree and past Georgia CIO of the Year nominee, and he was recognized as one of the Computerworld Premier 100 Technology Leaders in 2013.

Commenting on the announcement, President of Aflac U.S. Teresa L. White said, "From our SNG or Smart Next Generation app that now sits in the Smithsonian as a first of its kind innovation, to One Day Pay, reflecting another industry first, Aflac has always been on the forefront of creating technologies that enhance the customer experience and provide security for personal data. As the company continues to press forward and innovate in the digital space, I am pleased that Rich is joining the team to lead Aflac's efforts in these areas. He brings a wealth of experience to the role which will provide tremendous value to our policyholders, shareholders, employees and sales force."

Virgil R. Miller added, "With our increasing emphasis on digital transformation and our U.S. IT roadmap in response to the evolving needs of today's consumers, I am very pleased to bring Rich onboard in this new role. Given his proven background as both an innovator and an expert in IT and his long track record of delivering solid results, I am confident that his leadership will further strengthen Aflac's success as we execute on our innovation, digital transformation and IT strategies."

About Aflac Incorporated

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) is a Fortune 500 company, helping provide protection to more than 50 million people through its subsidiaries in Japan and the U.S., where it is a leading supplemental insurer by paying cash fast when policyholders get sick or injured. For more than six decades, insurance policies of Aflac Incorporated's subsidiaries have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of medical and cancer insurance in Japan where it insures 1 in 4 households. Through its trailblazing One Day Pay^SM initiative in the United States, for eligible claims, Aflac can process, approve and electronically send funds to claimants for quick access to cash in just one business day. For 12 consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2018, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America for the 20th consecutive year and in 2019 Fortune included Aflac on its list of World's Most Admired Companies for the 18th time. To find out more about One Day Pay^SM and learn how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at aflac.com.

Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. The Company desires to take advantage of these provisions. This document contains cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other statements made by company officials in communications with the financial community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "goal," "objective," "may," "should," "estimate," "intends," "projects," "will," "assumes," "potential," "target", "outlook" or similar words as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. Aflac undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

The Company cautions readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements: difficult conditions in global capital markets and the economy; exposure to significant interest rate risk; concentration of business in Japan; foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate; operation of the former Japan branch as a legal subsidiary; limited availability of acceptable yen-denominated investments; deviations in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions; ability to continue to develop and implement improvements in information technology systems; governmental actions for the purpose of stabilizing the financial markets; interruption in telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems, or a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems; ongoing changes in the Company's industry; failure to comply with restrictions on patient privacy and information security; extensive regulation and changes in law or regulation by governmental authorities; changes in tax rates applicable to the Company; defaults and credit downgrades of investments; ability to attract and retain qualified sales associates, brokers, employees, and distribution partners; decline in creditworthiness of other financial institutions; subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends to Aflac Incorporated; decreases in the Company's financial strength or debt ratings; inherent limitations to risk management policies and procedures; concentration of the Company's investments in any particular single-issuer or sector; differing judgments applied to investment valuations; ability to effectively manage key executive succession; significant valuation judgments in determination of amount of impairments taken on the Company's investments; catastrophic events including, but not necessarily limited to, epidemics, pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, war or other military action, terrorism or other acts of violence, and damage incidental to such events; changes in U.S. and/or Japanese accounting standards; loss of consumer trust resulting from events external to the Company's operations; increased expenses and reduced profitability resulting from changes in assumptions for pension and other postretirement benefit plans; level and outcome of litigation; and failure of internal controls or corporate governance policies and procedures.

Analyst and investor contact – David A. Young, 706.596.3264 or 800.235.2667; FAX: 706.324.6330 or dyoung@aflac.com

Media contact – Catherine H. Blades, 706.596.3014; FAX: 706.320.2288 or cblades@aflac.com

SOURCE Aflac Incorporated

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