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Deepa Soni Appointed New York Life EVP & CIO for Digital Transformation

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BusinessHonor - Deepa Soni Named EVP & CIO at New York Life

Business Honor
07 October, 2025

New York Life appoints Deepa Soni to lead AI, data, and technology innovation.

New York Life has appointed Deepa Soni as EVP and Chief Information Officer, marking a strategic direction towards digital transformation and AI adoption. Soni, a veteran of the financial services industry, will be responsible for enterprise technology, cybersecurity, data, and AI initiatives. She will be reporting directly to Craig DeSanto, New York Life President and CEO, and will also be instrumental in driving the company's technology and data capabilities.

Prior to her tenure at New York Life, Soni served in executive roles at The Hartford for close to six years, where she was the CIO as well as Chief Information and Operations Officer. Her remarkable credentials also feature executive technology positions at BMO Financial Group, M&T Bank, and KeyBank. In her new role at New York Life as its tech leader, Soni will be tasked with utilizing her knowledge to spearhead innovation and build the company's technical capabilities, enabling the firm to remain forward-looking in the ever-evolving financial services environment.

Soni’s appointment comes at a time when New York Life is increasingly relying on AI to streamline operations and improve customer experiences. Last year, the company launched Service Sage, a generative AI tool designed to assist service representatives by reviewing complex policy documents and providing quick, accurate responses. This tool, built with AWS technology, has already helped reduce call hold times and improve service accuracy.

In addition to AI tools for customer service, New York Life has partnered with Norm Ai, a company focused on regulatory AI applications, to enhance compliance processes. As the firm continues to expand its AI capabilities, Soni’s leadership will be pivotal in supporting New York Life’s vision of delivering seamless, data-driven experiences for clients, agents, and advisors alike. As AI acceptance gains traction in the financial services industry, Soni plays an important part in making New York Life a leader in digital transformation within the insurance sector.