Cain Hayes Departs Principal for Nationwide

Hayes joins Nationwide after 17 years with The Principal Financial Group where he most recently served as vice president of operations for the company’s large-plan retirement business. Prior to that role he served as the vice president and national sales director of its small-plan retirement business.

In his new role, Hayes is responsible for leading Nationwide’s existing bundled retirement plan operations where, according to the announcement, he’ll work to design long-term solutions and deliver products and services that meet the needs of those employers who, with their investment professionals, determine their plans’ needs are best met by a bundled provider.

Nationwide notes that it plans to continue growing its bundled business alongside its unbundled service model, “providing investment professionals and plan sponsors with two first-class options.”

“Cain’s extensive experience and successful track record in operations and sales leadership will be tremendously valuable to our organization,” said Bill Jackson, president of Nationwide retirement plans. “We realize that there are many plan sponsors and investment professionals that prefer this model and Cain’s focus on this market will allow us to meet these sponsors’ needs while continuing to serve the wider market through our network of highly experienced local administrators.”

Hayes, his wife and two children will relocate to Columbus, Ohio from their current home in Des Moines, Iowa.