Navigating transformation: Strategies for internal audit leadership in a changing landscape

Abim Kolawole is currently, VP, Chief Audit Executive and an executive member of Northwestern Mutual's Enterprise Leadership Group. In this role, he is accountable for the vision, design and implementation of the internal audit strategy and program at the company. He has primary leadership responsibility, in collaboration with key leaders, for maintaining and strengthening a world-class internal control environment. His role requires objective and independent reviews and evaluations of the company’s operations, information systems, controls, major business processes, records and reporting functions and will provide recommendations to company management and the audit committee of the board of trustees.

Before this role, Abim held a variety of executive roles at the company. This included leadership of a core aspect of the company’s multi‐year strategy – aimed at delivering better financial security outcomes for clients through the unique combination of the company’s insurance products and investment solutions. He also led the company’s corporate innovation program where he was responsible for developing and executing an enterprise innovation strategy to advance enterprise growth, operational efficiencies and strategic insights. Before leading the innovation program, he was head of the company’s insurance claims function and shared services with a team of 300+ highly skilled professionals.

Matt Lynch joined The Cigna Group’s Internal Audit department in August 2021.  In February 2023, Matt was appointed to the General Auditor role to lead the global Internal Audit function for The Cigna Group.  Matt serves in numerous governance roles for internal committees and initiatives across the enterprise, and his team is responsible for providing independent, objective and proactive assurance and advisory services related to assessing the effectiveness of internal controls in support of the Company achieving its objectives and to assist the Audit Committee in fulfilling certain of its governance responsibilities.

Prior to joining Cigna, Matt was in the external audit practice at KPMG LLP, providing financial statement audits, audits of internal control over financial reporting and statement of control attestation services.

Matt is a mentor in the Cigna Women in Finance Mentoring Program, an advisory board member for the Accounting department at his alma mater, Western New England University and serves on the executive leadership team for the American Heart Association supporting the Greater Hartford Heart Walk. He is a Certified Public Accountant, and holds a bachelor’s degree and MSA in Accounting from Western New England University.