Retirement Industry People Moves

Nationwide has named Ben Hoecherl ­the new leader of Nationwide ProAccount, the firm’s managed account service designed to make institutional-quality investing available to retirement plan participants. Hoecherl’s responsibilities include directing long-term strategy, operations and sales for ProAccount.

Hoecherl served most recently as the manager of product management and development at Advised Assets Group, focusing on the professional asset management program offered through Empower Retirement plans. He has previous experience in investment research and portfolio construction methodology.  

Hoecherl holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and business from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in business administration from Regis University in Denver. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation as well as his FINRA Series 65 license.

Nationwide reports that more than 100,000 plan participants use the ProAccount service, totaling more than $3.6 billion in assets under management.

Jordan Nault has been promoted to global leader of Mercer Investments’ hedge fund boutique.

Nault, who has been with Mercer since 2006, has experience as a senior investment consultant and has worked with a wide variety of institutional clients. She has served as the chair of the target-date fund (TDF) strategic research team since 2012 and was instrumental in developing a process to support TDF research coverage. She is also a member of the alternatives strategic research team and defined contribution committee, where she has been actively involved in leading Mercer’s research in liquid alternatives.

Nault began her career at Mercer in New York and relocated to Chicago to pursue her master’s degree. She will remain in Chicago, where she is currently based, and report to Deb Clarke, global head of investment research at Mercer Investments.

Nault holds a bachelor’s degree in Russian and Eastern European studies from the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Mercer also announced the appointment of Ben Thorndike as North America alternative investments leader. He is responsible for marketing and sales in North America for Mercer’s private equity, private debt, hedge funds, real estate and infrastructure research, advice and delegated solutions. Previously, Thorndike was with FOC Partners and prior to that role, he held positions with HGGC (formerly Huntsman Gay Global Capital) and Bain Capital. Thorndike has more than 30 years’ investment experience.

Thorndike, based in Boston, reports to Troy Saharic, regional sales leader for Mercer Investments in North America.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Colby College. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Investment Counselor.