David Cordani

David Cordani
David Cordani
Born	David M. Cordani 10 2, 1966
Birthplace	Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Chairman and CEO of The Cigna Group
Known for	Leading The Cigna Group as chairman and CEO
Education	University of Hartford (MBA) Texas A&M University (BA)
Spouse(s)	Sherry Cordani
Children	2
Awards	100 Most Influential People in Healthcare (Modern Healthcare, 2025)
Website	[https://www.thecignagroup.com/our-leaders/leadership-team/david-cordani Official site]

David M. Cordani (born February 10, 1966) is an American business executive who serves as the chairman, president, and chief executive officer of The Cigna Group, one of the largest health services organizations in the United States. Born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut, Cordani rose through the ranks of Cigna over a career spanning more than two decades, assuming the role of CEO in 2009 and later adding the title of chairman of the board. Under his leadership, Cigna has undergone significant transformation, including the major acquisition of Express Scripts and a corporate rebranding to The Cigna Group. Cordani has been a prominent voice in debates over American health care policy, testifying before the United States Congress on issues of health care affordability and insurance industry practices. In 2025, he was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare. He has also been recognized by the Hartford Business Journal as part of its Power 25 Health Care list.

Early Life

David M. Cordani was born on February 10, 1966, in Waterbury, Connecticut, a mid-sized city in the western part of the state historically associated with the brass manufacturing industry. Cordani grew up in Connecticut and has maintained ties to the state throughout his career. Details of his parents' occupations and his upbringing in Waterbury remain largely private, though his career trajectory suggests an early interest in business and management.

Cordani's roots in Connecticut would later prove relevant to his professional life, as Cigna—the company with which he would spend the bulk of his career—is headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut. His connection to the state has extended beyond business; in April 2021, Cordani wrote a letter to Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont in his capacity as Cigna CEO, addressing public health matters affecting the state's residents.

Education

Cordani attended Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor's degree. His time at Texas A&M took him away from his Connecticut roots, though he would later return to the Northeast. Cordani subsequently earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Hartford, a private university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The MBA from the University of Hartford provided Cordani with the advanced business training that would underpin his ascent through the corporate ranks of the health services industry.

Texas A&M University later featured Cordani in a 2022 profile titled "Going the Distance," highlighting his career achievements as a notable alumnus of the institution.

Career

Early Career at Cigna

Cordani joined Cigna early in his professional career and advanced through a series of increasingly senior positions within the organization. His trajectory through the company gave him exposure to multiple facets of the health insurance and health services business, including operations, strategy, and business development. Over the years, Cordani held various leadership roles that positioned him as a candidate for the company's top executive position.

Prior to becoming CEO, Cordani served as president of Cigna HealthCare, the company's core health insurance business segment. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the health insurance operations that served millions of customers across the United States.

CEO of Cigna (2009–present)

David Cordani became the chief executive officer of Cigna in 2009, taking the helm of one of the largest health services companies in the United States. The appointment marked a culmination of his long tenure at the company and placed him among the most prominent executives in the American health care industry. In addition to the CEO title, Cordani also serves as president and has subsequently assumed the role of chairman of the board of directors.

Under Cordani's leadership, Cigna pursued a strategy of growth and diversification that included one of the most significant transactions in the health services industry. In 2018, Cigna completed its acquisition of Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company, in a deal valued at approximately $67 billion. The acquisition significantly expanded Cigna's scope beyond traditional health insurance into pharmacy benefits management, creating a vertically integrated health services organization. The combined entity's health services arm was organized under the brand Evernorth Health Services, which has continued to grow as a major revenue driver for the company.

In recent years, the company has undergone a corporate rebranding, with the parent entity renamed as The Cigna Group to reflect its broader health services portfolio beyond traditional insurance.

Cordani has also been an active public voice on health care policy and the direction of the American health care system. In a 2026 appearance on The Wall Street Journal's "Bold Names" podcast, Cordani discussed what he views as the structural drivers of rising health care costs in the United States and advocated for a shift in the health care system from treating sickness to sustaining health. In July 2025, Cordani appeared on Bloomberg TV's series "Longevity with David Rubenstein," sharing perspectives on weight management and the American obesity crisis.

Pharmacy Benefit Management and Evernorth

A defining aspect of Cordani's tenure has been the integration and growth of Evernorth Health Services, the health services segment that houses Express Scripts and other businesses. Express Scripts, as one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the United States, has drawn significant scrutiny from regulators, lawmakers, and the public over PBM business practices, including drug pricing and transparency.

In early 2026, Cordani and other Cigna executives highlighted a new PBM model for Express Scripts that they said aligned with regulatory pushes toward greater transparency and with the terms of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The company reported approximately $12 billion in profit, with Evernorth continuing to grow as a significant contributor to the company's overall financial performance.

The vertical integration model pursued under Cordani—combining health insurance with pharmacy benefits management and other health services—has been a subject of both industry praise and criticism. Proponents argue that integration can create efficiencies and improve patient outcomes, while critics, including some members of Congress, have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the effects on competition and pricing.

Congressional Testimony

In January 2026, Cordani was among a group of health insurance CEOs who testified before committees of the United States House of Representatives on the subject of health care affordability. The hearings, held by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the House Ways and Means Committee, featured the chief executives of several of the nation's largest health insurers, including UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, and Elevance Health.

During the hearings, lawmakers from both political parties pressed the insurance executives on a range of issues, including premium increases, prior authorization rules, and claim denial practices. The hearings drew significant media attention and were described by one outlet as the CEOs' "no good, very bad day on the Hill," reflecting the intensity of the questioning from members of Congress.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) submitted statements for the record during the hearings, reflecting the broader healthcare industry's interest in the proceedings and the issues under discussion.

Executive Compensation

As CEO of one of the largest health services companies in the United States, Cordani has received substantial executive compensation. A 2022 report by STAT found that health insurance CEOs had received record pay during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Cordani among the executives whose compensation was examined. A subsequent 2024 analysis by Fierce Healthcare also examined payer CEO compensation, placing Cordani's pay in the context of his industry peers.

Executive compensation in the health insurance industry has been a recurring subject of public debate and congressional scrutiny, particularly as health care costs for consumers continue to rise. During the January 2026 House hearings, lawmakers raised executive pay as one of several areas of concern regarding the health insurance industry.

Personal Life

David Cordani is married to Sherry Cordani. The couple have two children. The family resides in Connecticut, where Cigna's corporate headquarters are located in Bloomfield.

Cordani is an avid endurance athlete. A 2010 profile in the Hartford Courant highlighted his commitment to physical fitness and his connection to his hometown of Waterbury. Texas A&M University's 2022 profile, titled "Going the Distance," also noted Cordani's interest in endurance sports and long-distance athletic pursuits, drawing a parallel between his physical endurance and his career longevity at Cigna.

In April 2021, Cordani wrote to Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont in his capacity as Cigna CEO, engaging on matters of public health relevance to the state.

Recognition

Cordani has received a number of professional recognitions throughout his career in the health services industry.

In December 2025, Modern Healthcare named Cordani to its annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare for 2025, reflecting his position as a leading figure in the American health care landscape.

In November 2025, the Hartford Business Journal recognized Cordani as part of its 2025 Power 25 Health Care list, acknowledging his role in leading one of Connecticut's most prominent health care organizations since assuming the CEO position in 2009.

Cordani has also been profiled by Forbes magazine as part of its coverage of prominent business executives.

His public appearances on major media platforms, including Bloomberg TV and The Wall Street Journal podcast, reflect his standing as a prominent voice in national discussions about health care policy, costs, and industry direction.

Legacy

As the longest-serving CEO of Cigna in recent decades, having led the company since 2009, Cordani's tenure has been defined by several transformative developments. The acquisition of Express Scripts in 2018 reshaped Cigna from a primarily health insurance company into a diversified health services enterprise, a shift reflected in the rebranding to The Cigna Group. The creation and growth of Evernorth Health Services as a major business segment has positioned the company at the center of ongoing national debates about the role of pharmacy benefit managers in the health care system.

Cordani's leadership has coincided with a period of intense public and political scrutiny of the health insurance industry. The January 2026 congressional hearings at which he and other insurance CEOs testified represented a significant moment of accountability for the industry, with lawmakers pressing executives on issues ranging from prior authorization and claim denials to executive compensation and vertical consolidation.

His public advocacy for a health care system oriented toward prevention and wellness rather than treatment of illness—articulated in forums such as The Wall Street Journal podcast and Bloomberg TV—represents a recurring theme of his public messaging during his tenure.

As a Connecticut native who has led one of the state's largest employers from its Bloomfield headquarters, Cordani's career also reflects the broader significance of the insurance and health services industry to the Connecticut economy.