Deals & People

Portland, Oregon-based Morley Financial Services has announced the appointment of Bill Gardner as director of sales and relationship management.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management has been selected as the investment manager and distributor for New York's 529 College Savings Program Advisor Plan.

MassMutual Retirement Services has hired Brian Curtin, Tapas Ghosh, and Richard Wright to join the firm’s Retirement Services sales and client management team. 

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll are launching its Fiduciary and Ethics Consulting Practice, with Suzanne M. Dugan and Luke Bierman as its first hires.

Russell Investments has promoted John Harrell and Paul Izzo to serve in the newly created positions of National Account Executive in the U.S. bank channel for its adviser-sold...

Manulife Asset Management announced that Nils C. Hegstad, CFA, will join its global Consultant Relations team as Manager.

Protective Life Corporation announced that Elaine L. Chao, former U.S. Secretary of Labor, has been elected to the Birmingham, Alabama, insurer’s Board of Directors. 

MetWest Ventures LLC announced it has acquired a majority interest in Reed Conner & Birdwell, LLC (RCB).

ERISA attorney Allison Grimm has joined Pension Planning $olutions, Inc. as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. 

Independent investment firm Windham Capital appointed Chris Arnold as vice president, client relationship management.

Fiduciary360 (fi360) has added five new employees: Amy Conaway, Allie Cooper, Alexandra Janocha, Leonard Vasilko, and Renee Watkins.

Prudential Real Estate Investors (PREI) announced that David Skinner has joined the firm in a new role to help develop and execute its defined contribution strategy.

National Advisors Trust has announced that three registered investment advisers (RIAs) have chosen to participate in the company’s Trust Representative Office (TRO) program.

Wilmington Trust has announced that Patrick M. Trainor was named senior vice president and business development department manager for the company’s Global Capital Markets Services group. 

Vigilant Financial Partners has appointed Shelly A. Horwitz as Partner, where she will lead the firm’s Retirement Plan Services efforts. 

Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company announced that Joe Greene is joining the firm as senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

SageView Advisory Group has hired Bob Noll as a senior investment adviser.

Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement and Trust announced that Steve Nolan has joined the firm as manager of transition services, effective July 1, 2011.

The Newport Group announced that Jeff Wirth is the new Senior Vice President, Non-Qualified Plans, and George White has joined the firm as Vice President, Non-Qualified Client Services.

Edward Ramos joined the company as a senior managing director and lead portfolio manager for the International Equity strategy at MacKay Shields LLC.