Retirement Industry People Moves

T. Rowe Price Taps Thomson to Lead New Investment Institute

T. Rowe Price’s Justin Thomson, head of international equity and chief investment officer, has been appointed head of a new investment institute.

The T. Rowe Price Investment Institute was announced October 1, with the goals of “enhancing the firm’s investment talent development” and “strengthening the delivery” to clients of its investment insights. The institute will launch at the start of 2025.

Thomson, who has been with the firm for 26 years, will lead the creation of a charter for the institute and then its work to curate and highlight T. Rowe’s investment insights and create educational content for clients and T. Rowe’s own investment professionals. The institute will also pursue partnerships and engagements on topics including “portfolio construction, behavioral finance, geopolitics, and others,” according to the announcement.

“Risks are everywhere in the markets today,” Thomson said in a statement. “More than ever, investors and advisers need a place where they can find timely and actionable insights from people who are on the ground asking the right questions of the companies that are shaping the present and future of the financial markets and global economies.”

Nationwide Taps Kelly for Institutional Sales Director East

Nationwide Retirement Solutions has hired Tom Kelly as institutional sales team director covering the East region.

Institutional sales are focused on Nationwide’s 401(k) and not-for-profit 403(b) plans with more than $25 million in assets under management. Kelly will report to Oscar Rodriguez, head of the division.

Kelly joins with 30 years of retirement plan industry experience, including at Transamerica and, most recently, Conduent HR Services. 

401GO Names Joseph Marullo Chief of Staff

Plan provider 401GO has named Joseph Marullo as chief of staff to work with leadership on operations, team management and the execution of strategic priorities.

Marullo joins from HealthFleet, where he was most recently vice president for strategic planning and operations. He also served as an intelligence officer for the U.S. Army while on active duty from 2004 through 2012 and served in the U.S. Army Reserves for an additional six years.

Marullo joins 401GO shortly after the firm completed a $12 million Series A financing round, with his hiring reinforcing “the company’s commitment to attracting top talent as it continues to innovate and disrupt the financial services industry,” according to the announcement.

ICI Names Shelly Antoniewicz as Chief Economist

The Investment Company Institute has named Rochelle “Shelly” Antoniewicz its chief economist, replacing Sean Collins, who will become a senior adviser.

Separately, the institute named Shane Worner senior director of industry and financial analysis; he will move to its Washington, D.C., office from its Brussels office, where his title was senior economist.

Antoniewicz is an ICI veteran, starting in 2005 and holding several positions, including senior economist and senior director of industry and financial analysis. Before ICI, she spent 13 years as a staff economist and senior economist at the Federal Reserve Board.

Collins had been ICI’s chief economist since 2017; he first joined the institute in 2000 after being a staff economist at the Federal Reserve Board. His work as chief economist focused on “the flows, assets, fees, and industrial organization of registered investment companies; financial market issues; the costs and benefits of laws and regulations governing funds; money market funds; and financial stability,” according to the announcement.

Worner joined ICI in 2023 after working at the International Organization of Securities Commissions coordinating IOSCO’s engagement in international asset management policy initiatives.

IRI Announces New Board Members

The Insured Retirement Institute announced two new members of its board of directors.

Tim Froehlich, managing director and head of insurance and annuities, wealth and investment management at Wells Fargo, will join the ICI’s board.

Colleen Tycz, senior vice president and head of strategic partnerships and insurance distribution at Franklin Templeton, will also join.

“Tim and Colleen bring solid industry experience and energy to the IRI Board of Directors,” Wayne Chopus, IRI’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “They are joining a highly motivated and engaged group of leaders. I look forward to their contributions and guidance to help IRI navigate our industry’s evolving challenges and opportunities in the months and years ahead.”