Two new executive positions took effect at Ameritas, the Lincoln, Nebraska company, on July 17, 2026. Bob MacDonald becomes senior vice president, strategic planning. Gaurav Mehra becomes senior vice president, marketing.
What "new positions" signals
Both roles are newly created. Ameritas is adding senior leadership capacity to two functions rather than filling seats left by departing executives. That distinction matters when reading a personnel announcement: a replacement hire keeps a function staffed; a newly created position expands the org chart and, by implication, elevates the priority the company assigns to that work.
A senior vice president sits one level below an executive vice president in most corporate hierarchies. The title typically carries operational authority over a defined business function and a direct line into executive planning conversations, including budget allocation.
The two functions
Strategic planning is the internal process by which a company sets direction over a multi-year horizon and decides how to allocate capital and headcount across competing demands. The executive in that seat generally shapes how other business units build targets, set timelines, and measure progress.
Marketing covers how an organization reaches prospective customers, positions its products relative to competitors, and manages external communications and brand identity.
What Ameritas disclosed
Ameritas credited MacDonald for contributions since his arrival at the company. The announcement gave no date for when he joined or what his previous role was. No financial terms, reporting structures, or operational targets accompanied either appointment. Mehra's background before this appointment was also not disclosed.