MissionSquare Retirement Appoints New CEO and President

The Board of Directors of MissionSquare Retirement on Tuesday named Andre Robinson chief executive officer and president of the organization, effective September 3. 

Andre Robinson

Robinson, who will also join the board, will succeed Deanna Santana, who served as acting CEO and president since 2023.

Growing up in a household and community of public service professionals in the Philadelphia area, Robinson says when he heard MissionSquare’s purpose to simplify the path to retirement security for public service employees, he felt immediately connected to its mission.  

Robinson joins MissionSquare from Voya Financial, where he was the head of advice and guidance for the retirement business and served as president of Voya Financial Advisors, the company’s retail arm. In these roles, he oversaw strategic initiatives, including the optimization of technology platforms to enhance participant experiences and outcomes. He also launched and scaled new product offerings that provide participants with insights to inform their savings and investment decisions. 

Prior to that role, Robinson worked at BNY Pershing, where he focused on driving institutional adoption of advisory-sponsored products and technology solutions. 

Robinson says his first objective in the first year at MissionSquare is to “listen and learn.” 

“The organization is very much in a strong position with a bright future,” he says. “My job is to listen and learn and determine where there’s going to be some innovative growth.” 

Robinson also wants to ensure MissionSquare is delivering the best possible service for plan sponsors, as well as plan participants. He says he will be focused on improving the financial literacy of public service employees, with the goal of improving retirement preparedness.  

Some of the main financial concerns of public service employees include affording college tuition and emergency expenses, and Robinson says it is important for MissionSquare to have the basic tenants and basic solution set to help those employees.  

“As long as we are providing the appropriate advice and guidance, it will help our participants either retire on time or retire ahead of time,” Robinson says.  

Bob Jones, chairman of the board, said in a press release that Robinson’s appointment followed an extensive, year-long search for a permanent CEO. 

“It is clear that [Robinson’s] deep passion for improving lives through financial wellness, and his exciting vision for innovation and driving growth through expanded offerings, make him the ideal leader for the next chapter of MissionSquare’s journey,” Jones stated. 

Robinson says he is excited to build upon MissionSquare’s 50-plus year legacy. 

“I think you’re going see the brand itself expand and increase in terms of overall profile, and you’re going to see us expand into new growth geographies to better help our participants in the overall communities that we serve,” he says.