CNA hires CTO from Fidelity

Chicago-based commercial insurer CNA has hired Bahr Omidfar as SVP and CTO.

Omidfar joins the company from Fidelity Investments, where he was SVP of technology and software security. In his new role at CNA, he will be responsible for strategic direction and leadership of CNA's architecture and application development organizations in the IT organization. He also will be expected to enhance CNA's user experience for producers, customers and employees using his expertise in cloud, API Gateway architecture and machine-learning applications, the company adds.

NICK ULIVIERI/Nick Ulivieri Photography

Omidfar reports to J. Merten, who was named EVP of technology and operations in January 2017. The company also added Caroline King as SVP of business strategy, technology and operations in April of that year. Longtime CIO Ray Oral retired in January 2018.

In addition, CNA announced that chief diversity officer Joyce Trimuel will take on an expanded role in the operations department, reporting to Merten in addition to the HR organization. In her operations role, Trimuel also will develop and execute "strategies that drive efficiency, innovation and process optimization in CNA's Operations department, improving the overall customer experience," the company says. She was hired in March 2017.