PIMCO's Thompson to Step Down

September 5, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - PIMCO Co-Chief Executive Bill Thompson will retire at year-end 2008, the company announced.

A PIMCO news release saidCo-CEO Mohamed A. El-Erian, who returned to the firm last September to help run the money manager (See El-Erian Returns to Help Run PIMCO ), was elected to serve as the firm’s CEO upon Thompson’s retirement. El-Erian will also continue his role as co-CIO with Bill Gross.

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The announcement credited Thompson with overseeing the firm’s growth fromone office, 125 employees and $40 billion in assets under management, to nine offices around the world, over 1,000 employees and $840 billion in client assets.

Thompson will remain available for various projects and consultations.

“I believe this is a particularly good time for a leadership transition at PIMCO because our firm has never been stronger or better positioned,” Thompson said in the announcement.

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