Retirement Industry People Moves

Northern Trust Names Americas Head of Asset Servicing

Jessica Donohue

Northern Trust Corp. announced Wednesday the promotion of Jessica Donohue to head of asset servicing, Americas. Donohue, who joined the firm in September 2025 as global head of project management for asset servicing, will report to Clive Bellows, co-president of the business unit.

Donohue succeeds Melanie Pickett, who was named chief transformation officer following a leadership shake-up after Northern Trust Asset Servicing President Teresa Parker retired in January.

Prior to joining Northern Trust, Donohue spent nearly 17 years at State Street, most recently as head of global investment insights. Her previous roles include global head of the asset owner segment and head of the global clients division.

Charette Promoted to Deputy CIO at Michigan MERS

Mike Charette

The Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan, a $19.66 billion pension fund for local public employees in the state, announced in early February the promotion of Mike Charette to deputy CIO.

Charette, who has been at the fund since 2002, most recently as managing director of investments, will oversee the pension fund’s global equities and fixed-income portfolios, which totaled $7.75 billion and $4.74 billion, respectively, as of December 2025.

Before becoming an investment analyst and later investment officer at MERS, Charette was an investment analyst at Kennedy Capital Advisors.

Securian Financial Promotes Peterson to SVP, Institutional Retirement Solutions

Kent Peterson

The Securian Financial Group announced Tuesday the promotion of Kent Peterson to senior vice president for institutional retirement solutions. Peterson succeeds Suzette Huovinen, who was promoted to executive vice president for enterprise capital and risk management, and reports to Chris Hilger, the firm’s chairman, president and CEO.

Peterson leads the arm of Securian that provides guaranteed income solutions for defined contribution plans, stable value investments, guaranteed investment contracts and pension risk transfers.

Peterson joined Securian Financial in 1990 as an actuary. He was promoted to second vice president in 2018 and to vice president in 2022.