Retirement Industry People Moves

IRI Elects New Member to Board of Directors

Sean Baker

The Insured Retirement Institute announced election results for the organization’s board of directors, welcoming Sean Baker as the newest member of the board.

Baker is currently a director and head of retirement insurance at BlackRock Retirement Group.

“I want to welcome Sean Baker from BlackRock as the newest member of the IRI board of directors,” stated Wayne Chopus, president and CEO of IRI, in a press release. “I look forward to his contributions.”

Additionally, the following members have been re-elected to new three-year terms.

• Jacob Armstrong, senior vice president, head of insurance strategic distribution, Franklin Templeton Distributors;
• Graham Day, president, Eagle Life Insurance Co. (for American Equity Investment Life Insurance Co.);
• Marci Green, managing director, head of retail insurance, Goldman Sachs Asset Management;
• Eric Henderson, president, Nationwide Annuity, Nationwide Financial;
• Robert Jameison, senior vice president, head of institutional insurance and DCIO relationship management, Fidelity Institutional Asset Management;
• John Kennedy, executive vice president, chief distribution and brand officer, Lincoln Financial Group;
• Kevin Kennedy, senior vice president, sales and chief marketing officer, retirement solutions division, Pacific Life Insurance Co.;
• Melissa Kivett, executive vice president, corporate retirement solutions and business development, TIAA;
• Wesley Severin, executive vice president, retirement division, Symetra Financial;
• Michael Sturm, managing director, annuity product executive, Bank of America; and
• Dylan Tyson, president, prudential retirement strategies, Prudential Financial.

Donnelly Joins T. Rowe Board of Directors   

Bill Donnelly

The T. Rowe Price board of directors has elected Bill Donnelly as an independent director of the company.

Donnelly currently serves as lead independent director for Ingersoll Rand Inc. and is also a member of the board of directors of Quanterix Corp..

“We are pleased to announce Bill Donnelly as our newest director,” stated Rob Sharps, CEO and president of T. Rowe Price Group Inc. “Bill is an accomplished business leader and senior executive with a successful track record of financial management and operational performance. His expertise and career experiences will be highly valuable to T. Rowe Price Group, our stockholders, customers, associates, and the communities we serve.”

Donnelly was the executive vice president responsible for finance, investor relations, supply chain and information technology for manufacturer Mettler-Toledo International Inc. when he retired in 2018 after more than 20 years, according to a T. Rowe Price press release. Donnelly previously served as chief financial officer of Elsag Bailey Process Automation NV and, prior to that, was an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the press release stated.

First Sentier Names New COO

Amanda Gazal

First Sentier Investors has appointed Amanda Gazal as the global investment manager’s new chief operating officer.

Gazal is responsible for overseeing the firm’s daily operations and driving growth strategy; collaborating with the executive leadership team; and overseeing global operations, IT, data management, the project management office and supplier management.

Gazal joins from Perpetual Limited, where she was also COO.

“I am delighted to welcome Amanda to the First Sentier Investors team,” Mark Steinberg, First Sentier’s CEO, stated in a press release. “Amanda’s proven track record of driving operational excellence and her strong leadership skills make her the ideal candidate to lead our operations as we continue to grow our business.”

Minneapolis-based Financial Adviser and Investment Manager Names President

Matt Pearson

Nepsis Inc appointed Matt Pearson as president to lead the firm’s strategic oversight and manage integration of Nepsis Family Office Network.

Pearson will report to Mark Pearson, CEO and founder of Nepsis. Pearson was promoted because of his work over the past decade, a company spokesperson said.

“Matt’s promotion to president builds on his 12-year tenure at the company [and he] will serve as a vital link between the firm’s tax and wealth management divisions, facilitating seamless collaboration to enhance operational efficiency,” the spokesperson said. “In response to the need for expanded leadership to support technological advancements and accommodate growth, Matt has also been entrusted with overseeing the development and maintenance of in-house and client-facing technology solutions.” 

Nepsis, headquartered in Minneapolis, is an independent financial adviser and investment management firm.