President, Thomas “Tom” Watjen '76

Key Largo, Florida
Appointed: July 2017 by Gov. Terry McAuliffe
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Thomas “Tom” Watjen ’76 graduated from VMI with a degree in Economics. He then received an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, where he is currently a Darden Fellow and occasional speaker. While at VMI, Watjen played on the Keydet basketball team and was a 1st Class private.

Watjen retired in 2015 after serving 12 years as president and chief executive officer of Unum, a leading provider of financial protection benefits in the workplace in both the U.S and U.K. Under Watjen’s leadership, Unum achieved strong, sustainable financial results, while expanding its market leadership position and building a culture of responsibility. The company received numerous awards including being named to the Forbes “100 Most Trustworthy Companies” list and “Best Places to Work,” and is one of the “Greenest Companies in America” according to Newsweek magazine.

He currently serves on the board of directors for Prudential plc, Arch Capital, and LocatorX. He previously served on the board of directors for Unum Group and Sun Trust Bank, where he was a member and past chairman of the audit, governance, and executive committees.

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