Navigating what’s next, together.
Anchored in deep experience and insight, our leadership team is proudly shaping the future of retirement.
The team at Knighthead Life is made up of accomplished, dedicated individuals with a wide breadth of insurance expertise. Together, we’re committed to delivering best-in-class annuity products that rechart the course to retirement security.
Meet the leadership team.
Edward Massaro
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER
Michael Brandriet
Chief Distribution Officer
Joe Evangelista
General Counsel
Matt Johnson
SVP, Distribution
Matt Johnson
SVP, Distribution
Corey Liebman
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Actuary
Nikki Pall
SVP, Distribution Relationship Manager
Amy Pramer
Chief Marketing
Officer
Kyle Ryan
Chief Operating
Officer
Kyle Ryan
Chief Operating
Officer
Edward Massaro
Chief Executive Officer
Edward is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Knighthead Insurance Group. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry and previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Knighthead Capital, Managing Director in the Leveraged Finance and Sponsor Coverage Group at HSBC Securities, and Head of High Yield and Loan Markets at RBS Greenwich Capital.
Joe Evangelista
General Counsel
Joe is the General Counsel of Knighthead Life and an attorney with a particular focus on insurance, regulatory and compliance matters. Joe has worked at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath in the Insurance practice group and held various roles across the insurance industry concentrating on establishing and building insurers, brokers, and ancillary contract providers.
Corey Liebman
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Actuary
Corey is Chief Financial Officer and Chief Actuary of Knighthead Life. He was previously a Managing Director at 26North Partners focusing on (re)insurance M&A transactions, served as Chief Financial Officer at A-CAP, and completed multiple life and annuity rotations in New York Life’s actuarial training program. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and a Member of the Academy of Actuaries (MAAA) and received a BBA in Finance, Accounting, and Economics from Emory University.
Amy Pramer
Chief Marketing Officer
Amy is Chief Marketing Officer and Chief of Staff at Knighthead Life. She has over 20 years of experience in Senior Marketing and Communications roles for asset management companies including Legg Mason and Morgan Stanley, and American Skandia. Amy holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut and a BS from Southern Connecticut State University as well as Series 6 and 63 licenses.
Michael Brandriet
Chief Distribution Officer
Michael is Head of Distribution at Knighthead Life and has over 30 years of experience in the life, annuity, and retirement industry. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in recruiting and building talented sales teams, strategic planning, and P&L budget management. Previously, Michael served as Chief Distribution Officer for American Equity Life, President of Allianz Life Financial Services, and as National Sales Manager for AXA/Equitable Life Insurance Company. His experience has been focused on distribution efficiency, productivity, and profitable growth. He holds several industry licenses, including Series 6, 26, and Life and Health Insurance Licenses.
Kyle Ryan
Chief Operating Officer
Kyle is the Chief Operating Officer for Knighthead Life. He has over 15 years of industry experience in financial services, management consulting, and operations leadership. Kyle began his career as a producer at MassMutual, specializing in Life and Disability sales, before pivoting to consulting roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Ernst & Young (EY). Most recently, Kyle led operations for Reliance Standard Life Insurance, helping scale the business and implement rapid improvement to overall service. Kyle received a BS in Political Science from The University of Delaware.
Chad Virgin
SVP, Distribution
Chad is an SVP, Distribution at Knighthead Life. He has over 19 years of experience within the annuity industry. Chad joins us from Allianz Life Insurance, where he spent 17 years building his deep expertise in business development, marketing, and sales. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Managing Director, having previously led numerous growth and business development initiatives throughout his tenure. In his role, Chad plays a key role in Knighthead Life’s growth by developing new products, reaching new customer segments, and enhancing our distribution capabilities across all levels.
Matt Johnson
SVP, Distribution
Matt is an SVP of Distribution at Knighthead Life. He brings over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and product development in the insurance and asset management industry. Matt joins us from American Equity, where he served as the Manager of Product & Distribution Strategy. Prior to his tenure at American Equity, Matt held positions at Prudential, Questor Capital Corp, Allianz, and Thrivent. In his role, Matt contributes to the growth of business by developing new products, fostering strategic partnerships, and leading innovative marketing initiatives.
Nikki Pall
SVP, Distribution Relationship Manager
Nikki is the SVP, Distribution Relationship Manager at Knighthead Life, where she leads sales and operations strategy. Nikki has over 20 years of experience in insurance operations, technology, and business process management. Previously, she ran operations as Former Head of Operations and Vice President at Oceanview Life and Annuity. Additionally, she held senior leadership roles at AIG focused on technology enablement and operational strategy. Nikki earned a degree in Computer Information Technology Administration and Management from Penn State University.