John McGrath, SPHR, CLU

Senior Executive Consultant & Coach

John joined Career Concepts in May 2011 after a career spanning more than 30 years at Prudential Financial Inc. (PFI). A multi-talented and seasoned business executive with international experience, John’s experience includes leading Claim and Customer Service Operations, being a National Accounts Executive within PFI’s Group Insurance Operations, functioning as a Compliance and Risk Management officer, and serving as a Human Resources executive in a number of the organization’s largest business units.

After leading the HR function in Prudential’s AARP Operations from 1994 to 1997 and the Group Insurance business unit from 1998 to 2003, John was chosen to be the Senior Vice President of Prudential International Insurance’s newly acquired Gibraltar Life Insurance in Tokyo, Japan. In this unique and challenging assignment as a member of the Executive Office, John was a key player in transforming a bankrupt insurance subsidiary into one of Prudential’s leading business units. During a 4 year period, he began by successfully linking the organization’s HR strategy to support the business’ new mission and business strategy. These efforts not only included transitioning and implementing Prudential HR practices and policies, but initiating a change management effort , successfully negotiating new labor agreements with the unit’s labor union, designing a new pay for performance compensation plan, implementing an innovative Career Design program, and introducing succession planning and talent management processes across the organization.

Additionally, while in his role at Gibraltar, John was involved in various initiatives within Prudential’s other insurance operations in Asia, including joint ventures in China and India. In the latter case, John played a key role in the start-up of an insurance business in India, headquartered in New Delhi. Throughout 2007 and 2008, he successfully recruited the CEO for this business and served as the Senior Advisor to the CEO, assisting him in numerous start-up activities as well as recruiting all 10 members of the senior executive team.

John is a graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton, NY with a degree in Sociology and Social Relations. He successfully achieved the prestigious insurance designation of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 1992 and received his Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) in 1999. Considering his broad business and human resources background, John will work closely with various members of Career Concepts practice leaders with a focus on executive coaching and executive career transition.