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, president, and CEO
Education	University of Hartford (MBA) Texas A&M University (BA)
Spouse(s)	Sherry Cordani
Children	2
Awards	Modern Healthcare 100 Most Influential People in 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 Cigna's ranks over the course of 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 completed several major strategic transactions, including its acquisition of Express Scripts in 2018, which reshaped the company into a diversified health services enterprise. Cordani has been a prominent voice in national discussions about health care affordability, pharmacy benefit management reform, and the shift from treating illness to sustaining health. He has testified before the United States Congress on matters related to health insurance costs and care access, and has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. His tenure has also been marked by public scrutiny over executive compensation in the health insurance industry and ongoing debates about the role of large insurers in the American health care system.

Early Life

David M. Cordani was born on February 10, 1966, in Waterbury, Connecticut, an industrial city in the western part of the state. He grew up in Connecticut and has maintained ties to the state throughout his career, with The Cigna Group headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

Cordani has spoken publicly about his upbringing and the values instilled during his youth in Connecticut. His background in a working-class New England city informed his perspective on access to health care and economic opportunity. By the time he entered college, Cordani had developed interests in business and athletics, both of which would play significant roles in shaping his professional identity and personal life.

Education

Cordani attended Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor's degree. His time at Texas A&M connected him to a large alumni network and provided the foundational business education that would launch his career in the health services industry. He has remained engaged with the university as an alumnus, and Texas A&M has profiled him as a notable graduate who has applied the discipline and values cultivated during his time at the institution to a career in corporate leadership.

Cordani later pursued graduate studies at the University of Hartford, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA). The University of Hartford, located in the same metropolitan area as Cigna's headquarters, provided Cordani with advanced training in business management and strategy. The combination of his undergraduate education in Texas and his graduate work in Connecticut positioned him for a career in the insurance and health services sector, which has a significant presence in the Hartford region.

Career

Early Career at Cigna

Cordani joined Cigna early in his professional career and spent more than two decades at the company before becoming its chief executive. Over the years, he held a series of progressively senior positions within the organization, gaining experience across multiple business segments. His roles provided him with broad exposure to the company's operations, including health insurance, managed care, and related services.

According to his corporate biography, Cordani's ascent within Cigna was characterized by leadership roles in both operational and strategic capacities. He developed expertise in the managed care and health benefits segments that would become central to the company's identity under his eventual leadership. His deep institutional knowledge of Cigna's business model, customer base, and competitive landscape positioned him as a leading candidate for the top executive role when the opportunity arose.

CEO of Cigna and The Cigna Group

Cordani was named president and chief executive officer of Cigna in 2009, taking the helm of one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States. He subsequently became chairman of the board, adding to his responsibilities as the company's top executive. The Hartford Business Journal noted that he has served as chairman and CEO of the Bloomfield-based Cigna Group since 2009, guiding one of Connecticut's most prominent health care organizations.

One of the most consequential decisions of Cordani's tenure was the acquisition of Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company, which was completed in 2018. The deal, valued at approximately $67 billion, transformed Cigna from a traditional health insurer into a diversified health services company. The combined entity, later rebranded as The Cigna Group, incorporated health insurance, pharmacy benefits management, and other health services under a single corporate umbrella. The integration of Express Scripts created a subsidiary known as Evernorth Health Services, which has become a major revenue driver for the company.

Under Cordani's leadership, The Cigna Group has positioned itself as one of the largest health services companies in the world, serving customers in multiple countries and offering a range of products including medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and vision insurance, as well as health care management and related services.

Pharmacy Benefit Management and Regulatory Engagement

The acquisition of Express Scripts brought Cordani and The Cigna Group into the center of a national debate over the role of pharmacy benefit managers in the American health care system. PBMs serve as intermediaries between drug manufacturers, insurers, and pharmacies, negotiating drug prices and managing prescription drug benefits. Critics have argued that PBMs contribute to rising drug costs and lack transparency, while defenders contend that they help control costs for employers and consumers.

In 2026, Cordani addressed these concerns publicly, stating that Express Scripts' new PBM model aligned with regulators' push toward greater transparency. The company reported $12 billion in profit, with Evernorth, the unit housing the PBM operations, continuing to grow as a key component of the business. Cordani described the new model as consistent with regulatory reforms and the terms of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), signaling the company's willingness to adapt its business practices in response to government oversight.

Cordani has also been an advocate for what he describes as a fundamental shift in the American health care system from treating sickness to sustaining health. In a 2026 appearance on a Wall Street Journal podcast, he discussed the factors driving America's rising health care costs and outlined his vision for a system oriented toward prevention and long-term health outcomes.

Congressional Testimony

In January 2026, Cordani appeared before the United States House of Representatives as part of back-to-back hearings held by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the House Ways and Means Committee. The hearings focused on health care affordability, and Cordani testified alongside the CEOs of UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, and Elevance Health.

During the hearings, lawmakers from both parties pressed the insurance executives on premium increases, prior authorization rules, and claim denials. The CEOs faced pointed questions about whether their companies' practices contributed to the high cost of health care in the United States. The hearings reflected growing bipartisan concern over the affordability of health insurance and the role of large insurers in the broader health care economy.

Healthcare Dive characterized the hearings as a difficult day for the insurance industry's top executives, noting that Cordani and his counterparts were "pilloried for care denials, vertical consolidation and sky-high executive compensation." The American Hospital Association (AHA) also submitted statements for the record in connection with the hearings, underscoring the broader industry interest in the topics under discussion.

Executive Compensation

Cordani's compensation as CEO of The Cigna Group has been a subject of public attention, particularly in the context of broader debates about executive pay in the health insurance industry. A 2022 report by STAT News examined the compensation of health insurance CEOs during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that several executives received record pay packages during that period. A subsequent analysis by Fierce Healthcare reviewed the compensation of payer CEOs, further contributing to public discourse on the subject.

The topic of executive compensation in the health insurance sector was also raised during the January 2026 congressional hearings, where lawmakers questioned whether high executive pay was consistent with efforts to make health care more affordable for consumers.

COVID-19 and Public Health Engagement

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cordani was involved in corporate and public health responses. In April 2021, he authored a letter to Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont addressing matters related to the pandemic response and the role of health insurers in supporting public health efforts. The letter reflected the insurance industry's engagement with state governments during the pandemic and Cordani's role as a leading voice in that dialogue.

Weight Management and Longevity

In July 2025, Cordani appeared on Bloomberg Television in a new series titled Longevity with David Rubenstein, where he discussed America's obesity crisis and the intersection of weight management with broader public health and longevity concerns. The appearance highlighted Cordani's public role as a commentator on health trends, including the growing use of GLP-1 receptor agonist medications for weight loss and their implications for health insurers.

Personal Life

David Cordani is married to Sherry Cordani, and the couple have two children. The family has resided in Connecticut, near the headquarters of The Cigna Group in Bloomfield.

Cordani is known to be an avid endurance athlete. A 2022 profile by Texas A&M University highlighted his dedication to distance running and endurance sports, framing his athletic pursuits as an extension of the discipline and persistence that have characterized his professional career. A 2010 feature in the Hartford Courant also discussed his fitness regimen and his connection to his hometown of Waterbury.

Recognition

Cordani has received several forms of recognition for his leadership in the health care industry. In 2025, Modern Healthcare named him to its list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare, acknowledging his role in shaping the direction of one of the country's largest health services companies.

Also in 2025, the Hartford Business Journal named Cordani to its Power 25 Health Care list, recognizing him as one of the most powerful figures in Connecticut's health care sector. The publication noted that he has led the Cigna Group since 2009 and continues to guide one of the state's most prominent health care organizations.

Cordani has been profiled by Forbes as part of its coverage of prominent business executives. He has also been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek research profiles related to his role at Cigna.

His alma mater, Texas A&M University, has profiled Cordani as a notable alumnus, highlighting both his professional achievements and his personal commitment to endurance athletics.

Legacy

David Cordani's tenure at the helm of The Cigna Group has coincided with a period of significant transformation in the American health care industry. His decision to acquire Express Scripts in 2018 was among the largest transactions in the history of the health services sector and reflected a broader trend of vertical integration among health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and health care providers. The move positioned The Cigna Group as a diversified health services company rather than a traditional health insurer, a strategic shift that has been both praised by investors and scrutinized by regulators and lawmakers.

Cordani has been a consistent public voice on the need to reorient the American health care system toward prevention and long-term health management, rather than acute care and episodic treatment. His public statements on this topic have appeared in major media outlets and at industry forums.

At the same time, Cordani's leadership has drawn criticism from some members of Congress and health care advocates who have questioned whether large health insurers and PBMs contribute to the affordability challenges facing American consumers. The January 2026 congressional hearings, at which Cordani testified, underscored the degree to which the business practices of major insurers remain a subject of active political debate.

As one of the longest-serving CEOs among major American health insurers, Cordani's decisions and public positions have had a measurable impact on the structure of the health services industry in the United States.