Retirement Industry People Moves

IRS Appoints Jarod Koopman Acting Chief Tax Compliance Officer

Jarod Koopman

The IRS announced Monday that it appointed Jarod Koopman as acting chief tax compliance officer.

Koopman will oversee IRS compliance operations, including the large business and international division; the small business/self-employed division; the tax-exempt and government entities division; the IRS criminal investigation division; the office of professional responsibility; the return preparer office; and the whistleblower office.

In 2002, Koopman began his career with the IRS as a special agent. Since 2016, he has worked as a criminal investigation executive, leading the creation and development of the cybercrimes and cyber and forensics services sections and serving as the director of each. Earlier in his career, he served as an assistant special agent in charge of the Chicago field office, a special agent in charge of the Detroit field office, a supervisory special agent for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York and a senior analyst.

World Insurance Names John Cicchelli Head of Employee Benefits Practice

John Cicchelli

World Insurance Associates LLC named John Cicchelli head of its employee benefits practice. Cicchelli will be focused on market expansion and product development.

Cicchelli has 30 years of experience in the employee benefits industry. Most recently, he served as the New York/New Jersey metro growth leader at Gallagher. Before then, he led the northeast region at Marsh & McLennan Agency.

“John has an in-depth understanding of the employee benefits ecosystem that will serve him well in driving World’s next stage of growth across this sector,” said Tom Fitzgerald, president of World’s retail business, in a statement. “He has a long and proven track record of exponentially increasing sales and market share, while also optimizing value and engagement for employers and their employees. We are thrilled to have him join the team.”

Sun Life Picks Tom Murphy as President

Tom Murphy

Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada promoted Tom Murphy, the firm’s executive vice president and chief risk officer, to president of its new asset management division.

Prior to joining Sun Life in 2022, Murphy was president of fixed income and head of institutional business at SLC Management, and he previously spent nearly 21 years at Mercer, holding titles such as U.S. wealth business leader and U.S. leader of OCIO/delegated investments.

“Sun Life is a leading global asset manager, and this new role and structure will bring all of Sun Life’s asset management businesses together under one pillar,” said Kevin Strain, Sun Life’s president and CEO, in a statement. “Sun Life Asset Management will also build new capabilities to better drive synergies between our asset management and insurance businesses.”

TIAA Hires Rob Crothers to Lead Business Development

Rob Crothers

TIAA hired Rob Crothers as head of business development and product implementation, starting in November.

Crothers, who had been BlackRock Inc.’s head of U.S. retirement, will lead efforts to develop TIAA’s strategic partnerships and business opportunities in the 401(k) corporate market. He will report to Colbert Narcisse, TIAA’s chief product and business development officer, and will be based in New York.

June Kim Leaves CalSTRS, Joins CalPERS

June Kim

June Kim, the senior investment director of total fund management at the Sacramento-based California State Teachers’ Retirement System, will become the deputy CIO for public markets at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. Kim succeeds Dan Bienvenue, who left CalPERS in April to lead pension solution offerings at General Atlantic Partners L.P.

Effective December 1, Kim will report to Stephen Gilmore, CIO of CalPERS, and will work closely with the pension fund’s senior investment staff to lead decisionmaking across the portfolio.

Kim has spent 11 years at CalSTRS and was named senior investment director of total fund management in July 2024. She previously held the role of investment director, global equity and served as the interim deputy CIO of CalSTRS from 2017 to 2018. Prior to working at CalSTRS, Kim was a principal investment officer of equities at the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association, and was an investment officer for the City of Los Angeles. She also held roles at Northern Trust Global Investments, Citibank, Barclays Global Investors and Wilshire Associates.