Dan Houston
Executive Chairman
Houston joined the company in 1984 and served in key business unit leadership roles before spending nearly a decade as president and CEO of the company.
Houston joined the company in 1984 in Dallas. He has held several management positions, being named senior vice president in 2000, executive vice president in 2006 and president of Retirement and Investor Services in 2008. He was named president and chief operating officer in 2014 before assuming his current role in 2015.
In addition to his role with the Principal Financial Group Board of Directors, Houston serves on the Boards of ADT Inc. and Arch Capital Group Ltd. He currently chairs the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University. And he’s been active in both industry and community leadership roles throughout his career.
Houston has frequently addressed the U.S. Congress and government officials from around the world, advocating for the advancement of financial access and promoting capital markets globally. In 2023, Houston received the Ray Lillywhite Award from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), honoring his distinguished career in the retirement and investment management field and the impact he has had enhancing Americans' economic security.
Houston received his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in 1984 and an honorary doctorate from the institution in 2022.