Lincoln Financial Group has named Kirkland Hicks as general counsel, effective Dec. 10, 2015.

In this role, Hicks will oversee all activities for the law, compliance, government relations, and corporate secretary functions of the company, as well as provide strategic counsel to the CEO and senior management team. He will report to Dennis Glass, president and CEO and will also sit on the company’s senior management committee, which drives the company’s long-term strategy.

Hicks joins Lincoln Financial from Towers Watson, where he served as general counsel and secretary since 2012. He previously served in several senior counsel positions at Towers Watson and Watson Wyatt Worldwide. Prior to joining Watson Wyatt in 2000, Hicks worked in private practice.