Retirement Industry People Moves

T. Rowe Price Adds Head of Global Separately Managed Accounts

T. Rowe Price Group Inc. announced in a press release that it hired Michael Benedetto in the newly created role of head of global separately managed account offerings.

Benedetto will oversee the strategic direction of T. Rowe Price’s SMA business globally, including manager traded SMAs, model delivery SMAs, dual contract SMAs and asset allocation model portfolios, the Baltimore-based firm announced.

In his new role, Benedetto will report to T. Rowe Price’s Cheri Belski, head of global product, and work closely with clients and key internal groups, including product, distribution and investments on product strategy, development and management activities to further evolve and build out the firm’s SMA lineup and capabilities, according to the release.

T. Rowe Price noted in the release that SMAs are a strategic business priority for the firm. It currently offers 16 equity, fixed-income and multi-asset strategies in the SMA vehicle and currently maintains 37 SMA sponsor placements, including all of the top 10 SMA distributors.

Benedetto joins the firm having most recently served as head of intermediary separate accounts and sub-advised funds at New York-based Neuberger Berman. Benedetto also served as a managed account subject matter expert, offering insights on industry trends and developments, and as director of SMA trading and portfolio implementation.

Megan Schneider Takes the Helm at U.S. Retirement & Benefits Partners

U.S. Retirement & Benefits Partners announced in a press release that Megan Schneider, formerly president, has been promoted to CEO.

The Iselin, New Jersey-based firm said Schneider took the role at the start of 2023. She joined USRBP from Willis Towers Watson in 2019 as chief operating officer and has been president since April 2021. 

Mark Skinner, USRBP co-founder and former CEO, has transitioned to the role of executive chairman of the board. He will focus on the acquisition of new partners to further expand retirement, health and financial wellness solutions, as well as national coverage, according to the release.

“Since joining us in 2019 as chief operating officer, Meg has demonstrated at every turn the terrific balance between strategic thinking and practical hands-on tactical execution,” Skinner said in the release. “Most recently, she successfully led our technology integration initiatives, the expansion of our client services and established the infrastructure to accelerate our organic growth ambitions.”

USRBP is an independent financial services firm specializing in employee benefit and employer-sponsored retirement plans in the K-12 public school, governmental, corporate and non-profit markets.

OneDigital Appoints Leader for Expanding Business in Southeast

OneDigital has appointed Steve Lundin head of its Southeast team as the firm continues to grow in the region, according to a press release.

Lundin will be regional managing principal for OneDigital’s operations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina, representing a total of 33 offices. He has worked in employee benefits, property and casualty, and financial advisory, among other areas, which aligns with OneDigital’s growing platform of offerings, according to the release.

Prior to joining OneDigital, Lundin served as chief operating officer at M Financial Group and also held several leadership positions for Marsh in the United States, China and the Middle East.

Voya Expands Wealth Solutions Sales Leadership Team

Voya Financial has hired Bonnie Mulry as vice president and head of sales support and business development for the company’s wealth solutions sales team, the New York-based firm announced in an email from a spokesperson.

Mulry is responsible for leading sales support team functions, building process efficiencies and assisting with new business deal strategies for Voya’s wealth solutions business across multiple distribution channels. The channels include emerging, mid, large and government markets related to information and proposals from intermediaries and plan sponsors.

Mulry joined Voya from Empower, where she was director, proposal management underwriting and investment execution, according to the email. She will report to Allison Dirksen, senior vice president and head of wealth solutions sales at Voya.

Nationwide Names Kevin Jestice to Lead Mutual Fund and ETF Investing

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company has tapped Kevin Jestice to lead its investment management group, the Columbus, Ohio-based firm announced in a post on its website.

Jestice will take leadership responsibility for Nationwide’s mutual fund and exchange-traded funds business, including portfolio management, investment advisory, broker/dealer, operations, business and product development, according to the release.

He was promoted to the position after two years at Nationwide as vice president of internal sales and service and institutional investments distribution. In that role, Jestice developed strategies to expand Nationwide’s reach and grow institutional sales of mutual funds and ETFs, as well as leading a team that provides service to millions of customers, financial professionals and firms, according to Nationwide.

Before joining Nationwide, Jestice spent more than 13 years at Vanguard, most recently serving as principal and head of enterprise advice. He also served as principal and head of institutional investor services, leading a team of more than 250 investment professionals, relationship managers and operations professionals to serve Vanguard’s institutional asset management clients.

Cohen & Steers Names LaPointe Head of Wealth Consulting Group

Real asset and alternative income investment manager Cohen & Steers Inc., announced in a press release that Kimberly LaPointe has joined as executive vice president and head of its wealth management consulting group.

As head of the group, LaPointe leads teams focused on the registered investment adviser, broker/dealer, U.S. private bank, multi-family office, OCIO and DCIO channels, according to the firm. She reports to Dan Charles, head of global distribution.

“Kimberly joins Cohen & Steers at an exciting time as we move closer to a new investment cycle that we believe will favor real assets and alternative income,” Joe Harvey, CEO and president, said in the release.

LaPointe most recently served as executive vice president and head of PGIM Investments International, where she led the firm’s expansion into Europe and Asia, according to the release.

CAPTRUST Community Foundation Unveils 2023 Leadership

The CAPTRUST Community Foundation, a CAPTRUST employee-run 501(c)(3) organization, named its new leadership in a recent press release.

The CCF will be led by Co-Presidents Veronica Karas, senior financial adviser, and Bryan Lewis, account manager of advice and wellness. Raleigh, North Carolina-based CAPTRUST announced that the two will oversee the following team of colleagues: 

• Elizabeth Altman, marketing chair
• Molly Brown, financial literacy chair
• Kara Chase, events chair
• Greg Delage, treasurer 
• Rhonda Downum, volunteer chair 
• Mary Hime, grants chair 
• Megan Loftin, secretary 
• Michelle Miller, fundraising chair 

The board also announced new oversight members: Philip D’Unger, Kim Griggs-Murray, Ashley May, Oliver Norman, James Stenstrom, Juanita Evans, Nathan Erickson, Mike Volo, Mackenzie Ball and Tim Harris.

The CCF donated a record $1.11 million in 2022, surpassing last year’s donations of $1.05 million, according to the release. The foundation provides grants to nonprofits across the country that benefit children and has donated more than $4.9 million since it was founded in 2007.

The CCF is run by CAPTRUST employees, with fundraising sourced largely from employee payroll deductions matched by CAPTRUST.