Retirement Industry People Moves – 1/19/24

Transamerica Hires Dickinson to Lead Participant Engagement

Transamerica Corp. has hired John Dickinson as director of participant engagement and communications.

John Dickinson

Dickinson joins from Principal Financial Group, where he was a senior education strategist; prior to that, he was a participant experience consultant with Wells Fargo.

Dickinson will lead Transamerica’s engagement strategist group, focused on reaching participants with education and retirement guidance. He will also work on integrating the firm’s participant engagement and communication consulting programs with areas including participant experience, new client and participant transitioning, retirement product marketing and advice.

“It’s a privilege to lead Transamerica’s award-winning communication consulting and team, some of the industry’s most experienced communications strategists and retirement plan subject matter experts,” Dickinson wrote via email.

Vestwell Makes Sales Team Moves

Steve Mandel

Small plan recordkeeper and retirement services provider Vestwell announced several promotions and addition to its sales team.

Mike Guinane

Steve Mandel has moved to a new role as vice president of special markets distribution, focusing on distribution for pooled employer plans, professional employer organizations and associations.

Mike Guinane was hired in January as regional vice president for the Upper Midwest, reporting to Tim Susoev, Vestwell’s West divisional vice president.

Chad Carlson and Ariella Castner have also joined the firm’s payroll and channel sales team as account executives, where they will focus on partner distribution.

Voya Names Investment Adviser Leary to Board

Voya Financial Inc. has named Robert Leary, a senior adviser at LeapFrog Investments, to the company’s board of directors, effective January 8.

Robert Leary

Leary brings 30 years of experience in asset management, employee benefits, retirement, insurance and annuities to the New York-based health, wealth and investment company, according to the announcement. He will serve on multiple committees for Voya, including the compensation, benefits and talent management committee; nominating, governance and social responsibility committee; and technology, innovation and operations committee.

LeapFrog is a private investment firm that invests in high-growth financial services, health care and climate solutions companies in emerging markets. Prior to his role at LeapFrog, Leary held several CEO roles, including with the Olayan Group, TIAA Global Asset Management, Nuveen Investments Inc. and ING Financial Services Inc., a predecessor of Voya Financial.

Correction: Fixes mispelled first name.