Protective names David Loper as Executive Director of the Protective Life Foundation

Protective Life , a U.S. subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, announced that David Loper has been named Vice President of Community Engagement and Executive Director of the Protective Life Foundation.

In this role, Loper will represent Protective in the community, manage the day-to-day operations of the Foundation and oversee millions of dollars in corporate giving to programs and organizations that drive positive change across Protective’s footprint and beyond. Loper’s deep-rooted commitment to Protective’s mission is evident through his extensive civic network and dynamic approach to community engagement.

“With his deep knowledge of Protective’s culture and the Birmingham community, David was the perfect choice to lead the Foundation,” said Wendy Evesque, Protective’s Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. “We are thrilled to have him back on the Protective team and look forward to seeing how he will continue to advance Protective’s positive impact in the communities where we live and work.”

Loper spent nearly 20 years at Protective before retiring in 2021. He most recently served as Senior Vice President, Senior Counsel, where he managed a team of attorneys and legal assistants who supported litigation, contracts, intellectual property, human resources, distribution and more. A graduate of Millsaps College and Tulane University Law School, Loper is a member of the Millsaps College Board of Trustees. As an active civic leader, he has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Birmingham Zoo, Alabama Ballet, Birmingham AIDS Outreach, REV Birmingham and the Exceptional Foundation, among others. He is also a member of the Birmingham Downtown Kiwanis Club and a graduate of Leadership Birmingham’s class of 2008.

Loper succeeds Eva Robertson, who is retiring at the end of the year after a career at Protective that has spanned more than 40 years. Leading the Foundation since in 2018, Robertson has committed to helping protect our communities through both acts of service and charitable giving, all focused on improving the quality of education, public health, community wellness, creative arts and the environment, among other areas of impact.

“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Eva for her dedication to Protective and commitment to Birmingham over the last four decades and wish her the best on her well-deserved retirement,” Evesque continued.

Since its founding in 1994, the Protective Life Foundation has given over $84 million in cumulative contributions, including $4.5 million in 2022 that reached 192 local nonprofit organizations and engaged more than 1,800 teammates in volunteer activities. In 2022, the Foundation was recognized by the Alabama chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as Alabama’s Outstanding Charitable Organization. The Foundation is a testament to Protective’s unwavering support of outstanding organizations that address a wide spectrum of issues in our communities and improve the quality of the environment and the life of our fellow citizens and neighborhoods.