Eric Stevenson

Senior Consultant, Lifetime Financial Security Program, Milken Institute

Eric Stevenson serves as a senior consultant to the Lifetime Financial Security Program in the Finance pillar at the Milken Institute. Previously, he served as president of Retirement Solutions at Nationwide Financial from 2019 to 2025. He oversaw more than $200 billion in assets under management. Under his leadership, Nationwide Financial evolved beyond a retirement solutions recordkeeper, becoming a trusted partner in retirement readiness. As a result, Nationwide became an industry leader, launching a suite of in-plan protected retirement solutions and emerged as a leading force in that category. As senior vice president of Retirement Plans Distribution, he led a national team supporting more than 2.5 million participants in preparing for and living in retirement. Stevenson’s influence extended beyond the walls of Nationwide, testifying before Congress in support of the SECURE Act and other key legislation aimed at improving retirement outcomes for millions of Americans. He served in other high-level roles at Nationwide Financial beginning in 2006. He began his work in life insurance marketing and rose through leadership roles in retirement plans marketing and distribution. He also served on several operating committees and the Bank Trust Board at Nationwide Financial. He has focused on advocacy, innovation, and a commitment to helping people achieve financial security in retirement.

Stevenson owned and operated four Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburger restaurants for 20 years while simultaneously guiding large, cross-functional teams at Nationwide. He also has significant marketing, sales, and general management experience in the consumer-packaged goods businesses at Quaker Oats (now PepsiCo) and Warner–Lambert (now Pfizer) through past roles.

He serves on the Board of Regents as vice chair for the University of Oklahoma (OU), one of seven members appointed by the governor. He is chair of the Administration and Operations Committee, which oversees IT, cybersecurity, compensation, and athletics. He has also served on the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) Board of Trustees.

He has spoken at the 2023 and 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference and the EBRI-Milken Institute Retirement Symposium.

Stevenson earned his bachelor’s degree from OU and his MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. In 2022, Savoy recognized him as one of the Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America.