Mary Barra and David Cordani are two respected American business leaders who built successful careers in very different industries. Barra is the longtime leader of General Motors, while Cordani spent more than three decades with The Cigna Group.
Although their names are sometimes searched together, there is no verified evidence that they are related. Their connection is mainly their status as influential corporate executives who reached senior leadership after years of experience.
This article covers their age, family, education, career, lifestyle, net worth, height, appearance, social media, and other interesting facts.
Profile Bio
| Detail | Mary Barra | David Cordani |
| Full Name | Mary T. Barra | David M. Cordani |
| Born | December 24, 1961 | 1966 |
| Age (2026) | 64 | 60 |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Profession | Business Executive | Business Executive |
| Current Role | Chair & CEO, General Motors | Executive Chair, The Cigna Group |
| CEO Tenure | GM CEO since 2014 | Cigna CEO, 2009–2026 |
| Education | Kettering University; Stanford MBA | Texas A&M; University of Hartford MBA |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed | Not publicly confirmed |
| 2025 Compensation | Approx. $29.9 million | Approx. $22.87 million |
| Personal Net Worth | Not officially confirmed | Not officially confirmed |
| Known For | Leading GM and automotive innovation | Leadership in health services and Cigna |
Who Are Mary Barra and David Cordani?
Mary Barra is the Chair and CEO of General Motors. She became GM’s chief executive in 2014 and was elected chair of the board in 2016.
Her career at GM began much earlier. She joined the company as a co-op student in 1980 and later worked across engineering, manufacturing, product development, purchasing, supply chain, and management.
David Cordani is a longtime healthcare executive who joined The Cigna Group in 1991. He became CEO in 2009 and served in that role until July 2026.
Cordani now serves as Executive Chair of Cigna’s board. His career has focused on healthcare services, customer relationships, business strategy, and organizational growth.
Mary Barra Age
Mary Barra was born on December 24, 1961, in Michigan. She is 64 years old in 2026.
Her age is particularly interesting because she has spent more than four decades with General Motors. Her long tenure gives her an unusual perspective on the automotive industry’s transformation.
From manufacturing and engineering to electric vehicles and software, Barra has experienced several major changes within the automobile business.
David Cordani Age
David Cordani was born on February 10, 1966, making him 60 years old in 2026.
Cordani also built his career over several decades with the same organization. He joined Cigna in 1991 and gradually moved through increasingly senior positions.
His long association with Cigna helped him develop experience across healthcare operations, customer strategy, marketing, and executive management.
Mary Barra Family
Mary Barra was raised in Michigan in a family closely connected to the automotive industry. Her father, Ray Mäkelä, worked at General Motors for many years as a skilled tradesman.
Barra has discussed how her father’s career influenced her understanding of manufacturing and work. His experience at GM also gave her an early connection to the company she would eventually lead.
She has a brother, although details about her extended family are not widely publicized.
Mary Barra Husband and Children
Mary Barra is married to Anthony “Tony” Barra, whom she met during her university years.
The couple have two children. Barra has generally maintained a clear boundary between her professional life and her family’s private life.
Because of that privacy, reliable public information about her children is limited. Most of her public appearances focus on GM, technology, leadership, and the automotive industry.
Mary Barra Education
Barra studied electrical engineering at the General Motors Institute, now known as Kettering University.
She later earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Her combination of technical and business education became an important part of her career.
The engineering background helped her understand GM’s technical operations, while her MBA provided additional preparation for management and corporate strategy.
Mary Barra Career
Mary Barra joined General Motors in 1980 as a co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division.
Over the following decades, she held positions in engineering, manufacturing, human resources, product development, purchasing, and supply chain operations.
In 2014, Barra became GM’s CEO. In 2016, she also became chair of the company’s board.
Her leadership has coincided with major changes in the automotive sector, particularly the growth of electric vehicles, connected technology, software, and autonomous-driving development.
David Cordani Family
David Cordani has kept many details about his early family life private.
His public biographies focus primarily on his education, professional career, wife, children, charitable work, and leadership responsibilities.
His family life is more visible through his philanthropic activities with his wife, Sherry Cordani, particularly through the David and Sherry Cordani Family Foundation.
David Cordani Wife and Children
David Cordani is married to Sherry Cordani, and the couple have two children.
The Cordanis have also been involved in charitable initiatives connected with health, wellness, veterans, and community organizations.
Cordani’s involvement with Achilles International has provided another window into his personal interests. He has participated in endurance events while supporting athletes with disabilities and wounded veterans.
David Cordani Education
Cordani earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University.
He later completed an MBA at the University of Hartford, building a strong academic foundation in business and management.
Unlike Barra’s engineering background, Cordani’s education was centered primarily on business. His professional career subsequently developed within the healthcare industry.
David Cordani Career
David Cordani joined Cigna in 1991 and spent more than 30 years developing his career there.
Before becoming CEO, he held several important positions, including Chief Operating Officer and President of Cigna HealthCare.
He became CEO in 2009 and remained in that role until July 2026. He then transitioned to Executive Chair, with Brian Evanko becoming Cigna’s CEO.
Cordani’s leadership period included significant changes in the healthcare industry and the expansion of Cigna’s health-services operations.
Leadership Style
Mary Barra’s leadership has been influenced heavily by her engineering and manufacturing background.
Her public work often emphasizes technology, product development, manufacturing, employees, innovation, and the future of transportation.
David Cordani’s leadership has focused more heavily on healthcare services, customer relationships, business transformation, and organizational strategy.
Despite their differences, both executives built their leadership careers through years of experience rather than rapid moves between companies.
Mary Barra Net Worth
Mary Barra’s exact personal net worth is not publicly confirmed.
Online estimates vary, but there is not enough reliable public information to present a specific figure as fact.
Her disclosed corporate compensation provides a more reliable reference. GM reported approximately $29.9 million in total compensation for Barra in 2025.
This figure includes salary, stock awards, incentives, and other compensation. It should not be described as her net worth because personal assets and liabilities are not fully public.
David Cordani Net Worth
David Cordani’s exact net worth is also not officially disclosed.
The Cigna Group reported approximately $22.87 million in total compensation for Cordani in 2025.
That amount represents compensation from his position and is different from personal wealth. Net worth would also include investments, property, other assets, and liabilities that may not be publicly known.
For that reason, online net-worth estimates should be treated as approximations rather than confirmed financial facts.
Height and Appearance
The exact heights of Mary Barra and David Cordani are not reliably documented by their companies or other strong primary sources.
Several websites publish estimated measurements, but those figures are difficult to verify independently.
Barra is generally seen in professional business attire at GM events, conferences, and interviews. Cordani similarly maintains a polished executive appearance at corporate and charitable events.
Mary Barra Lifestyle
Mary Barra’s public lifestyle is closely connected to her career at General Motors.
Her professional schedule includes business meetings, manufacturing visits, technology discussions, industry events, and public appearances related to GM.
She also maintains an active professional presence online, particularly through LinkedIn, where she discusses automotive technology, employees, manufacturing, leadership, and innovation.
David Cordani Lifestyle
David Cordani has a strong connection with fitness and endurance sports.
He has participated in marathons and triathlons and has supported Achilles International, an organization that helps people with disabilities participate in athletic events.
His philanthropic interests also include community health and veterans’ causes. His lifestyle therefore combines corporate leadership with athletics and charitable involvement.
Social Media
Mary Barra has a significant professional presence on LinkedIn. Her profile identifies her as Chair and CEO of General Motors and has attracted a large professional following.
Her posts generally cover GM, technology, employees, manufacturing, leadership, and developments in the automotive industry.
David Cordani also maintains a professional online presence. His public posts and appearances have focused on healthcare leadership, community service, athletics, and professional experiences.
Are They Related?
There is no reliable evidence that Mary Barra and David Cordani are related.
They come from different family backgrounds and have built careers in separate industries. Barra is closely associated with General Motors, while Cordani’s professional identity is tied to The Cigna Group.
Their names appearing together online should therefore not be interpreted as evidence of a family relationship.
What They Have in Common
One of the strongest similarities between Barra and Cordani is their long-term commitment to one organization.
Barra joined GM in 1980 and eventually became CEO and chair. Cordani joined Cigna in 1991 and eventually became CEO and later Executive Chair.
Both also have graduate business education and experience across multiple areas of their respective companies.
Their public profiles are primarily professional, with both maintaining relatively private family lives.
Interesting Facts
One notable fact about Mary Barra is that she began working at General Motors as a co-op student at age 18.
She later became the first woman to lead a major U.S. automaker, marking an important moment in the history of the American automotive industry.
David Cordani has a different distinction. Alongside his corporate career, he has developed a reputation for endurance athletics and charitable involvement.
He has participated in athletic events supporting athletes with disabilities and wounded veterans through Achilles International.
Final Thoughts
Mary Barra and David Cordani have followed different professional paths, but both demonstrate the value of long-term experience and leadership.
Barra rose from a GM co-op position to become Chair and CEO of one of the world’s best-known automakers.
Cordani spent more than three decades at Cigna, eventually becoming CEO and then Executive Chair in 2026.
Their family lives remain relatively private, while their professional achievements are well documented. Most importantly, there is no established evidence that Mary Barra and David Cordani are related.
For readers interested in business biographies, their stories offer two very different examples of how executives can develop expertise, adapt to changing industries, and build influential careers over many years.
Must Read: Sean Connolly and Howard Marks: Age, Career, Family and Net Worth
FAQs
Who are Mary Barra and David Cordani?
Mary Barra is the Chair and CEO of General Motors, while David Cordani is Executive Chair of The Cigna Group. Barra has led GM as CEO since 2014, while Cordani served as Cigna’s CEO from 2009 until July 2026.
How old are Mary Barra and David Cordani?
Mary Barra was born on December 24, 1961, making her 64 years old in 2026. David Cordani is 60 years old in 2026, according to The Cigna Group’s current board profile.
What is Mary Barra’s net worth?
Mary Barra’s exact personal net worth has not been officially confirmed by General Motors or another authoritative source. However, GM reported that her 2025 total compensation was approximately $29.9 million, including salary, stock awards, incentive compensation, and other compensation.
What is David Cordani’s net worth?
David Cordani’s exact personal net worth is not publicly confirmed. His reported 2025 total compensation was approximately $22.87 million while he was Cigna’s CEO. From July 2026, his role changed to Executive Chair, with a new compensation arrangement.
Are Mary Barra and David Cordani related?
There is no reliable public evidence that Mary Barra and David Cordani are related. They are both prominent American business executives who have built long careers in different industries—automotive manufacturing and health services.
