Story by: Northwestern Mutual- Kansas City
Story Happened on:2025-09-02
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sept. 2, 2025 – Northwestern Mutual, a leading financial services company, has named Lesle Griessel, CLU®, ChFC®, as managing partner of its Kansas and West Missouri Network Office, effective yesterday. Griessel assumes the role following more than two decades with the firm and becomes one of the few women in company history to hold the title.
Her appointment signals a new era of focused growth, intentional leadership, and advisor development across the region. Griessel is committed to building a firm defined by clarity, trust, and long-term impact, with a culture where advisors are proud of what they do and who they do it with.
“This is not just about continuing what we’ve built. It’s about sharpening it,” said Griessel. “My focus is on helping people build careers they’re proud of, in a culture they believe in, with results that speak for themselves. This is a place where we do the work that matters, where we lead with both excellence and heart.”
Griessel began her career at Northwestern Mutual in 2002 as a college intern and has since held nearly every major field leadership role, including Chief Development Officer and Associate Managing Partner. She is known across the firm for her clear expectations, steady presence, and deep commitment to advisor growth.
“She leads with presence, purpose, and clarity,” said Brooke Rosel, Chief Operations Officer. “Lesle listens, she acts, and she brings people with her. Advisors want to grow here because of the standard she sets and the support she gives.”
The firm is actively growing under Griessel’s leadership. She is focused on attracting driven professionals who are looking for a career change and want to be part of a culture built on performance, belonging, and purpose. “If you want to make a real impact, if you want growth, and a place where people genuinely want you to succeed, we are building that here,” she said.
Griessel has served as president of the Women’s Field Association, on Northwestern Mutual’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, and as a member of the firm’s inaugural Women’s Leadership Study Group. She sits on the Finance Advisory Board at the University of Kansas School of Business, where she graduated in the top ten percent of her class. She was named one of Ingram’s 40 Under Forty and a WeKC Woman Executive.
She holds CLU® and ChFC® designations and multiple securities licenses. Griessel lives in the KC Metro with her husband Matt, a financial advisor, and their two daughters.
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About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what’s most important. With nearly $700 billion of total assets* being managed across the company’s institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, more than $38 billion in revenues, nearly $2.4 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 109 on the 2025 FORTUNE® 500 and was recognized by FORTUNE as one of the “World’s Most Admired” life insurance companies in 2025.
Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with “Advisor” in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.
*Includes investments and separate account assets of Northwestern Mutual as well as retail investment client assets held or managed by Northwestern Mutual.
SOURCE Northwestern Mutual
1-800-323-7033, [email protected]
Author: Northwestern Mutual
Kansas City
