Karen Shaff is the executive vice president and general counsel for Principal Financial Group, Inc. She was elected to this position in 2004. Prior to working at The Principal, Shaff was an associate with the law firm of Austin and Gaudineer from July 1979 through February 1982. She holds a law degree from Drake University Law School. Shaff obtained her B.A. from Northwestern University in Political Science. Shaff is a board member and Immediate Past President of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel, a member of the American, Iowa State and Polk County Bar Associations, the Association of Corporate Counsel and a past member of the Iowa State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct and the Iowa State Bar Association Board of Governors. She is a director of GuideOne Mutual Insurance Company and GuideOne Specialty Mutual Insurance Company. Shaff is also chair of the Science Center of Iowa board of directors, a member of the Drake Law School board of counselors and a trustee of Grinnell College.
