David Cordani is a longtime American business executive best known for his leadership of The Cigna Group, one of the largest companies in the U.S. health care industry. Born in Connecticut in 1966, Cordani built a career that began in accounting and consulting before leading Cigna through major changes in insurance and health services.
In 2026, his career entered a new chapter when he stepped down as CEO and became Executive Chair. His education, career path, compensation, family life, philanthropy, and long tenure make his story worth a closer look.
Who Is David Cordani?
David M. Cordani is an American business executive who spent more than three decades at Cigna. He joined the company in 1991 and eventually rose through several leadership positions before becoming chief executive officer in January 2010. He later became chairman of the board in 2022.
For years, David Cordani was closely associated with Cigna’s transformation from a traditional health insurer into a broader health services company. The company expanded its business through acquisitions, including the major 2018 acquisition of Express Scripts, and later operated through businesses including Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services.
His leadership also placed him at the center of conversations about health care affordability, access, pharmacy benefits, transparency, and employer-sponsored health coverage.
As of 2026, however, Cordani is no longer Cigna’s CEO. He became Executive Chair on July 1, 2026, while Brian Evanko succeeded him as CEO.
David Cordani Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
| Full name | David M. Cordani |
| Born | February 10, 1966 |
| Birthplace | Waterbury, Connecticut |
| Age in 2026 | 60 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Texas A&M University, University of Hartford |
| Industry | Health care and insurance |
| Joined Cigna | 1991 |
| Became CEO | January 2010 |
| Became Chairman | 2022 |
| CEO retirement | July 1, 2026 |
| 2026 role | Executive Chair, The Cigna Group |
| Wife | Sherry Cordani |
| Children | Two |
How Old Is David Cordani in 2026?
David Cordani is 60 years old in 2026. He was born on February 10, 1966, in Waterbury, Connecticut.
That means he turned 60 in February 2026, just months before his transition from CEO to Executive Chair at The Cigna Group.
His age is particularly relevant this year because the leadership change was planned as a retirement transition rather than an unexpected departure. Cigna announced in March 2026 that Cordani would retire as CEO effective July 1 and move into the Executive Chair position.
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Where Did David Cordani Grow Up?
Cordani grew up in Connecticut in a multigenerational family environment. He and his two brothers were raised with parents, grandparents, and other relatives nearby.
He has described his upbringing as an important influence on his values. Three ideas he has highlighted from his family background are hard work, treating others fairly, and giving back to the community.
His family briefly relocated to Houston during his high school years. That move helped introduce him to Texas A&M University because his older brother attended the school.
Cordani later chose Texas A&M partly because of its culture, traditions, and emphasis on leadership and service.
Where Did David Cordani Go to College?
David Cordani attended Texas A&M University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in accounting.
He later earned an MBA from the University of Hartford.
His accounting background became an important foundation for his corporate career. Rather than beginning in medicine or health care, Cordani entered the business world through financial and consulting work before joining Cigna.
Texas A&M has also remained significant to him personally. Cordani and his wife, Sherry, have supported student veterans through scholarship and emergency assistance programs connected with the university.
When Did David Cordani Join Cigna?
Cordani joined Cigna in 1991.
Over the next several decades, he held a variety of positions and gradually moved into senior leadership. His rise is notable because he didn’t arrive at Cigna as an outside executive hired specifically to run the company. He developed his career inside the organization.
Before becoming CEO, Cordani held major responsibilities involving Cigna’s health care business and operations. He became president in 2008 and served as chief operating officer before taking over as CEO.
David Cordani’s Career Timeline
A simplified look at his career shows how long his relationship with Cigna has lasted:
- 1980s: Completed his education at Texas A&M University.
- After college: Began his professional career in accounting and consulting.
- 1991: Joined Cigna.
- 2008: Became Cigna’s president and chief operating officer.
- 2010: Became chief executive officer.
- 2022: Became chairman of Cigna’s board.
- 2026: Retired as CEO and became Executive Chair.
His tenure as CEO lasted nearly 17 years.
What Did David Cordani Accomplish at Cigna?
Cordani led Cigna during a period of major change in the American health care industry.
One of the biggest developments during his tenure was Cigna’s expansion beyond its traditional health insurance business. The company’s acquisition of Express Scripts in 2018 was a major step toward building a broader health services organization.
Cigna later developed Evernorth Health Services as a major part of its business structure.
When announcing Cordani’s retirement, Cigna said that the company had grown from a traditional insurer serving about 46 million customers and generating approximately $18 billion in annual revenue into a global health company with about 180 million customer relationships and roughly $275 billion in annual revenue.
Cordani also became a prominent voice on issues such as health care affordability, transparency, prevention, and patient experience.
What Is David Cordani’s Leadership Focus?
Cordani has frequently emphasized the idea of improving health outcomes rather than focusing only on treating illness.
During a 2024 Boston College Chief Executives Club event, he discussed the concept of “vitality” and its potential role in addressing broader health challenges. He also spoke about the need to control health care costs and improve the American health care system.
His public leadership themes have included:
- Health care affordability
- Easier access to care
- Customer and patient experience
- Preventive health
- Workplace well-being
- Community health
- Health care transparency
- Pharmacy benefit services
These topics became especially important as Cigna expanded beyond its traditional insurance roots.
Why Did David Cordani Step Down as CEO in 2026?
David Cordani’s departure from the CEO position was announced in March 2026.
The company said he would retire as chief executive officer on July 1, 2026, then continue with The Cigna Group as Executive Chair of the Board. Brian Evanko, who had been Cigna’s president and chief operating officer, became the company’s new CEO.
This was presented as a planned succession rather than a sudden leadership change.
Cigna said the transition was designed to maintain continuity while preparing the company for its next phase.
Cordani’s new role also means he remains connected to the company after leaving the CEO position.
What Is David Cordani’s Net Worth?
There is no publicly confirmed personal net worth figure for David Cordani.
Online estimates vary considerably, so figures presented on celebrity and executive biography websites should be treated cautiously.
One reason estimates can become large is that Cordani has accumulated substantial holdings in Cigna stock and has received significant executive compensation over many years. However, stock holdings aren’t the same thing as cash income, and the value of investments can change.
The most reliable public information comes from Cigna’s SEC filings rather than unofficial net worth websites.
How Much Did David Cordani Make in 2025?
According to The Cigna Group’s 2026 proxy statement, Cordani’s total compensation for 2025 was $22,866,134.
That included:
- $1.6 million in base salary
- $3.2 million in non-equity incentive compensation
- Approximately $13.93 million in stock awards
- Approximately $3.4 million in option awards
- Other compensation and pension-related amounts
The filing also reported compensation actually paid under the SEC’s required methodology at approximately $14.59 million for 2025. These are different accounting measures, so they shouldn’t be treated as interchangeable numbers.
Cigna reported that about 92% of Cordani’s 2025 target compensation was performance-based, including long-term incentives and annual incentive compensation.
What Is David Cordani’s Salary as Executive Chair?
His compensation changed when he moved from CEO to Executive Chair.
Cigna’s SEC filing states that effective July 1, 2026, Cordani’s annualized base salary became $1 million, while his annual incentive target became $2 million. He also remained eligible for long-term incentive awards subject to board approval.
This is substantially different from his previous CEO compensation structure, which included much larger performance-based equity awards.
Is David Cordani Married?
Yes. David Cordani is married to Sherry Cordani.
The couple has also been involved in philanthropic work together. The David and Sherry Cordani Family Foundation supports organizations focused on community health and overall well-being.
Public information about their family life is relatively limited, and that makes it important not to treat unverified online claims as established facts.
Does David Cordani Have Children?
Public biographical information indicates that David and Sherry Cordani have two children.
The family has generally maintained a relatively private profile compared with many entertainment celebrities. Much of the publicly available information about Cordani focuses on his professional career, philanthropy, and leadership rather than his children’s personal lives.
What Is David Cordani Known for Outside Cigna?
Cordani has been involved in philanthropy, community programs, veteran support, and health-related initiatives.
His connection to Texas A&M is particularly notable. Through family-supported initiatives, he has helped create opportunities for student veterans and their spouses.
He and Sherry have also supported organizations through their family foundation.
Cordani’s interest in veterans appears repeatedly in his public philanthropic work, including support for programs connected with military veterans and their families.
Does David Cordani Have Social Media?
David Cordani has maintained a professional presence on LinkedIn, where he has shared posts about leadership, community service, health, veterans, employees, and other professional topics.
His social media presence is primarily business-focused rather than celebrity-oriented. He isn’t known for maintaining the type of highly personal social media profile associated with actors, musicians, or influencers.
That distinction matters when searching for “David Cordani Instagram” or similar terms because unofficial accounts and unrelated people with the same name can appear in search results.
What Is David Cordani’s Connection to Veterans?
Veteran support has been an important part of Cordani’s philanthropic activities.
Texas A&M has highlighted his support for student veterans through the Sherry L. and David M. Cordani ’88 Aggie Veteran Freedom Scholarship. The university has also reported support for a Student Aggie Veteran Enhancement Fund designed to help student veterans facing financial emergencies.
Cordani has explained this work in terms of gratitude and responsibility toward people who served in the military.
His support has also extended to organizations serving wounded veterans and military families.
What Is David Cordani’s Role in 2026?
As of September 2026, David Cordani’s role is Executive Chair of The Cigna Group.
He left the CEO position on July 1, 2026, after nearly 17 years as chief executive. Brian Evanko succeeded him as CEO.
The transition was announced months in advance, allowing Cordani and Evanko to work together during the handoff.
Cigna’s 2026 filings also confirm that Cordani’s new compensation arrangement was specifically designed around his Executive Chair responsibilities.
David Cordani’s Career in Numbers
Several numbers help put his career into perspective:
- 60: His age in 2026
- 1991: Year he joined Cigna
- Nearly 17 years: Length of his tenure as CEO
- 2022: Year he became chairman
- $22.87 million: Total reported compensation for 2025
- $1 million: Annualized base salary as Executive Chair beginning July 1, 2026
- 2: Number of children publicly reported
- 180 million: Customer relationships cited by Cigna in its 2026 succession announcement
These figures show why David Cordani has remained an important figure in the U.S. health care business for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions About David Cordani
Who is David Cordani?
David Cordani is an American business executive and longtime Cigna leader. He joined Cigna in 1991, became CEO in 2010, became chairman in 2022, and transitioned from CEO to Executive Chair in July 2026.
How old is David Cordani?
David Cordani is 60 years old in 2026. His birthday is February 10, 1966.
Is David Cordani still CEO of Cigna?
No. David Cordani retired as CEO effective July 1, 2026. He became Executive Chair of The Cigna Group, while Brian Evanko became CEO.
What is David Cordani’s educational background?
He attended Texas A&M University and later earned an MBA from the University of Hartford. His undergraduate studies were in accounting.
Who is David Cordani’s wife?
His wife is Sherry Cordani. The couple has supported charitable initiatives together, including work benefiting veterans and community health.
How much did David Cordani make in 2025?
Cigna’s 2026 proxy statement reports total 2025 compensation of $22,866,134 for Cordani. The filing also reports approximately $14.59 million in “compensation actually paid” under the SEC’s specific calculation method.
What is David Cordani’s net worth?
His exact personal net worth isn’t publicly confirmed. Online estimates vary, while SEC filings provide more reliable information about his compensation and disclosed company stock holdings.
Where is David Cordani from?
David Cordani was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and grew up in Connecticut.
What does David Cordani do now?
Since July 1, 2026, Cordani has served as Executive Chair of The Cigna Group’s Board of Directors after retiring as CEO.
Final Takeaway on David Cordani
David Cordani has spent more than 35 years connected to Cigna, rising from a professional who joined the company in 1991 to CEO and chairman of a global health services organization. His 2026 transition marks a major change, but not a complete departure from the company. He now serves as Executive Chair after handing the CEO role to Brian Evanko.
His career also includes substantial executive compensation, veteran-focused philanthropy, and a long-standing focus on changing how health care is delivered and experienced.
