Former TSP Director to Lead San Francisco System

October 2, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The Retirement Board of the San Francisco Employees' Retirement System (SFERS) announced its selection of Gary Amelio as executive director.

Amelio, an award-winning industry veteran with nearly three decades of expertise in the employee benefits, financial services, investment, and public fund industries, will replace long-serving SFERS Executive Director Clare M. Murphy, who announced her retirement effective January 2010, according to the announcement.

Amelio currently serves as an international consultant to SunGard Omni, a global technology provider. He is scheduled to join SFERS in November.

Amelio served as executive director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board from 2003 to 2007, leading the world’s largest defined contribution plan, the Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees and the military. While at the TSP, he was awarded PLANSPONSOR’s 2004 Plan Sponsor of the Year Award (see Taking the Bull by the Horns: Plan Sponsor of the Year ).

Amelio has also served as president for Retirement Services of ULLICO Inc., a union-owned, multi-line financial services organization, and as a senior vice president at PNC Bank. Earlier in his career, as a licensed attorney, his legal practice included work as counsel on a broad range of ERISA, fiduciary, and Taft-Hartley plan-related matters.

Amelio holds an undergraduate degree in political science and a law degree, both from the University of Pittsburgh.

“SFERS is extraordinarily grateful to have a leader of Amelio’s caliber and experience take the reins of our retirement system,” said SFERS Retirement Board President Richard H. Peterson, Jr., in the announcement.

«