Manny Padilla Named RIMS President for 2026 Term

New RIMS leadership sets vision for risk professionals to drive corporate innovation.
By: | January 5, 2026
Topics: News | People on the Move | RIMS | Risk Management
Manuel “Manny” Padilla

RIMS, the risk management society, announced Manuel “Manny” Padilla as its 70th president effective Jan. 1—a historic milestone as he becomes the organization’s first leader of Hispanic descent.

Padilla brings more than three decades of experience to the role, having joined MacAndrews & Forbes Inc. in 1992, where he currently serves as vice president of risk management and insurance. At the diversified holding company, he has overseen analysis, procurement and management of complex risk functions across a portfolio spanning cosmetics, entertainment, gaming, banking and biotechnology.

His connection to RIMS traces back to his earliest days in the field. In 1992, Padilla received a scholarship to attend the RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, an opportunity that launched his longstanding involvement with the organization. Since then, he has held multiple board leadership positions and served in prominent roles on the Public Policy Committee and RISK PAC.

Beyond RIMS, Padilla serves as co-chair of the Lloyd’s Council of Risk Owners and teaches as an adjunct professor at the Maurice Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science at St. John’s University.

Padilla’s military background, including active service in the U.S. Navy from 1982 to 1988 and ongoing involvement with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, underscores his commitment to leadership and service.

Elevating the Risk Management Profession

Padilla’s agenda as president centers on empowering risk professionals to assume greater strategic influence within their organizations.

“The time is now for risk professionals to take the lead and build corporate cultures that empower business leaders to make smart and strategic investments that spur innovation, growth, and profitability,” Padilla stated. He emphasized that achieving this prominence requires professionals to prioritize their own development, noting that “Making the smart investment in oneself demands patience, dedication and perseverance.”

As RIMS president, Padilla aims to expand opportunities for risk professionals globally to advance their skills and expertise while strengthening the profession as a whole.

He succeeds Kristen Peed, chief risk officer of Sequoia, who serves on the RIMS board of directors.

Joining Padilla as president of the RIMS 2026 Global Board of Directors are the following officers:

  • President-Elect: Christy Kaufman, vice president, P&C Risk and Compliance, for USAA.
  • Treasurer: Penni Chambers, senior vice president, Risk Management, for Hillwood, a Perot Company.
  • Secretary: Christie Weinstein, senior director, Risk Management, at Solstice Advanced Materials Inc.

View the press release here. &

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