Pinnacol Assurance President and CEO John O’Donnell featured in The CEO Magazine

Colorado’s largest workers’ compensation insurer highlights collaborative leadership, safety investment and workforce development

DENVER, Nov. 3, 2026 – Pinnacol Assurance President and CEO John O’Donnell is featured in The CEO Magazine, where he discusses how the 111-year-old insurer is adapting to new technology and changing workforce expectations while staying focused on its mission of caring protection for Colorado workers.

In the profile, O’Donnell traces his collaborative leadership approach to eight years as a U.S. Marine Corps Cobra attack helicopter pilot. He says the experience taught him that “I realized very early on that you don’t accomplish anything by yourself,” a lesson he has carried through leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, The Walt Disney Company, GMAC, and Allstate.

Leadership built on clarity and autonomy
O’Donnell describes a leadership style based on stewardship and empowerment rather than top-down authority. Drawing on the military concept of “commander’s intent,” he explains that when people understand the mission clearly, they can make decisive choices on their own as conditions change.

Prevention and shared success
The article highlights Pinnacol’s commitment to preventing injuries before they happen. Every policy includes a free safety inspection, and the company’s safety consulting and education programs, including services for Spanish-language workers, have contributed to a roughly 20 percent reduction in workplace injuries and illness over the past decade. The company also provides coverage regardless of an employer’s risk profile.

Investing in the next generation
The feature spotlights Pinnacol’s three-year apprenticeship program, launched in 2017 and modeled on the Swiss apprenticeship system. High school students, often from under-resourced schools, earn 2,000 hours of paid experience across finance, marketing, technology and claims, and graduate debt-free. Of the 65 apprentices who have graduated, 18 have joined Pinnacol full time. The program has drawn visits from elected officials, Harvard Business School and overseas delegations.

Community commitment
Pinnacol has directed more than $7.2 million in grants to community projects over the past decade. The Pinnacol Foundation has awarded $7.4 million in scholarships to more than 800 students whose family members were injured or killed at work since 2001, regardless of whether those families were insured by Pinnacol.

Under O’Donnell’s leadership, Pinnacol also launched EverPeak, a wholly owned subsidiary that helps members get coverage across state lines, extending the company’s commitment to pivoting to members’ evolving needs. 

The full feature, written by Julie Cooper, is available at: https://digitalmag.theceomagazine.com/john-odonnell-2/