This week in new hires, Commonwealth Financial Network once again made the Boston Globe's list of top places to work in Massachusetts; State Street Global Advisors announced the new head of U.K. defined contribution; Milla Krasnopolsky joined Mercer; Ellen Turf announced that she would depart NAPFA next year; and Intech announced a new hire and promotions.
Also, Family Office Exchange added three new firms to its list of leading wealth advisors; Glenmede hired Timothy Fisk and Jeffrey Coron; Newfleet Asset Management named David Albrycht president and chief investment officer; Duane Jeffers went to OneAmerica; and MassMutual named Laura Cali as TPA relationship manager.
Commonwealth Financial Network Again Ranked a Top Place to Work
For the fifth consecutive year, Commonwealth Financial Network has been ranked as one of the top places to work in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe. Overall, Commonwealth was honored as the No. 6 large-size firm to work for, and also placed in the top 10 in three categories: diversity, training, and work conditions. Commonwealth is one of just a handful of Massachusetts companies that has earned a spot every year since the Globe introduced its Top Places list.
The ranking recognizes companies across the state based on employee opinions on workplace practices in the areas of compensation, leadership, appreciation, career opportunities and management. Employees were asked to grade their organizations according to 24 performance statements, on issues ranging from encouraging new ideas to providing opportunities for growth and development. Private companies, nonprofits, and publicly held businesses were included in the analysis.
State Street Global Advisors Appoints Head of UK Defined Contribution
State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), the asset management business of State Street Corp. (NYSE: STT), recently announced the appointment of Nigel Aston to managing director and head of U.K. defined contribution. In this newly created London-based position, he will report to Susan Raynes, senior managing director and head of U.K., Middle East and Africa, and Fredrik Axsater, managing director and global head of defined contribution.
Prior to joining, Aston was a business development director with data company DCisions. His experience also included head of strategy and propositions at Standard Life and a number of roles at AXA, including investment strategy director and key account director within its corporate benefit solutions division. He began his career at Sun Life as senior sales consultant.
Milla Krasnopolsky Joins Mercer
Milla Krasnopolsky has joined Mercer's financial strategy group as a senior consultant and lead strategist for dynamic derisking solutions, effective Monday. Prior to joining, she was managing director for fixed income markets and strategic solutions for the GM pension plan.
Krasnopolsky joined General Motors in 1999 and was appointed managing director, fixed income markets and strategic solutions in 2008.
NAPFA CEO to Step Down; Fee-Only Group Seeks New Hire
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors announced Monday that NAPFA CEO and Executive Director Ellen Turf will leave the fee-only planning organization on Aug. 31, 2013.
Turf, 60, told NAPFA leaders about her plans to leave in a letter written in early October, which gives the organization nearly a year find her replacement. She explained that her decision to leave is part of a life plan that she and her husband established with the help of their financial planner.
The announcement comes on the heels of a shakeup on NAPFA's board in August, when Ron Rhoades voluntarily resigned from his chairman-elect position due to a compliance violation at his firm, ScholarFi, based in Alfred, N.Y. Lauren Locker, founder of Locker Financial Services in Little Falls, N.J., was elected in September to replace Rhoades as NAPFA chairman.
A search committee that the NAPFA board formed after receiving Turf's letter will conduct a national search for the next CEO/executive director.
Read the full story at AdvisorOne.
Intech Announces New Hire and Promotions
Intech Investment Management recently announced the hiring of Jonathan Hanke, Ph.D., as associate director of research. In this role, he will conduct research on stochastic portfolio theory, and its applications to managing portfolios. He will be based at Intech's research facility in Princeton, N.J.
Prior to joining, Hanke held various teaching positions, most recently as an assistant professor at the University of Georgia. Other positions he has held included visiting assistant professor at Duke University, instructor at Princeton University and VIGRE Hill assistant professor at Rutgers University. Hanke is also the recipient of numerous awards and grants.
