Deals and People June 19, 2014

Towers Watson Appoints Two New CIOs

June 19, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Towers Watson made two executive appointments within the company’s investment business.
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Craig Baker has taken on the new role of global chief investment officer (CIO) and is responsible for all aspects of the investment business’s philosophy and process. Chris Mansi takes on the new role of global delegated CIO, with responsibility for the construction and management of delegated clients’ portfolios.

“In order to provide a competitive advantage for our clients, we have to make the best possible use of our global resources, both in finding investment ideas and in helping our clients decide which investments are appropriate for their portfolios,” says Chris Ford, global head of investment for Towers Watson. “There are significant advantages to be gained by this approach of establishing a level playing field among alpha, smart beta and bulk beta investments, as well as by treating risk management as a source of value creation rather than considering only return generation.

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“To this end, Craig’s role as global CIO for our whole investment business brings together all of our research and portfolio construction resources,­” Ford explains. “He will be responsible for our investment philosophy and approach across both advisory and delegated services, ensuring consistency across the investment processes used in each case.”

Ford adds, “In an increasing number of jurisdictions, our clients are asking us to augment their internal resources by taking on the responsibility for implementing part or their entire portfolio through a delegated or outsourced CIO service. In appointing Chris Mansi to the role of global CIO for our delegated service, with responsibility for portfolio management for these clients, we will further increase our ability to deliver our best investment ideas to these clients, whatever their jurisdiction.”

Baker and Mansi have worked in most areas of Towers Watson’s investment business during their tenures of 20 and 15 years, respectively.

Deals and People June 19, 2014

OneAmerica Reshuffles Sales Structure

June 19, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – The companies of OneAmerica have implemented a new three-region sales and distribution structure for retirement services.
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Sales and service delivery resources in Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, San Antonio, San Francisco and Seattle now operate as part of the West region. Staffers in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Minneapolis and St. Louis are now part of the Central region. The East region covers Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Florida, Nashville, Philadelphia and the Washington, D.C., area

OneAmerica says the new structure will improve geographic proximity for clients and create efficiencies in service delivery. The firm named Paul Citron as vice president of national sales and field service as part of the change—a role in which he will oversee all three sales regions. Citron joined OneAmerica in 2012 as regional vice president and carries over 20 years of retirement plan sales, service and management experience.

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The following sales management and field sales changes have also been announced:

  • Mark Glavin was named vice president of the western region. Glavin joined the companies of OneAmerica in 2005 as vice president national sales and field service after a 23-year career at Principal Financial Group.
  • Pat Kendall is now vice president of the eastern region. Kendall has more than 12 years of retirement sales experience and has held roles at Transamerica, Diversified and MassMutual.
  • Duane Jeffers was named regional vice president and tax exempt specialist for the central region. Jeffers joined OneAmerica in 2012 and has been serving as regional sales director in the Ohio and Michigan regions. He brings 20 years of experience in tax exempt plan sales and support to this new role. Previously, he held roles at Prudential, Great West and Nationwide.
  • Miki Sakata is now regional sales director in northern California and Nevada. Sakata brings more than 17 years of retirement sales experience and has held roles at Prudential, The Standard, Guardian and TransAmerica.

The firm says the expansion will be complete following the end of a search for a vice president for central region sales. More information is available at www.oneamerica.com.

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