Retirement Industry People Moves

Simon Mok

Texas ERS Promotes Mok to Director of Private Real Estate 
The $44 billion Employees Retirement System of Texas promoted Simon Mok to director of private real estate. 

Mok had been a portfolio manager on ERS’ private real estate team for almost seven years. He replaced Amy Cureton, who became managing director of real assets in September. 

“Simon has been a tremendous resource during his time at ERS and brings tremendous experience, knowledge and insights to this leadership role within the Private Real Estate Team,” CIO David Veal said in a statement. “ERS is highly focused on advancing capable and experienced personnel within the organization, and I know Simon will make significant contributions to the Private Real Estate Team and the Trust overall in this role.” 

As director of private real estate, Mok oversees approximately 10% of ERS trust assets. 

Mok has more than 20 years of global investment experience. Before joining ERS, he held senior roles at Franklin Real Asset Advisors and AIG Global Real Estate. 

Omer Ahmed

Financial Planning Standards Board Names New COO 
The Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. appointed Omer Ahmed as its new chief operating officer. Ahmed succeeds Eric Cauble, bringing two decades of experience in financial services regulation and organizational transformation. Ahmed previously served as chief financial officer and chief risk officer of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, where he oversaw finance, risk and strategic planning.  
Ahmed will guide global operations and strategic initiatives to strengthen the FPSB’s infrastructure and efficiency, according to the organization.  

Cynthia Dash

IRALogix Adds Cynthia Dash to Board of Directors 
IRALogix appointed Cynthia Dash to its board of directors. Dash, president of Employee Fiduciary LLC, has more than 20 years of experience scaling technology-driven financial platforms.  

She previously held senior roles at Broadridge Retirement & Workplace and Matrix Financial Services. Dash noted she is joining the board “at a pivotal moment for both the company and the evolving IRA landscape,” as the firm works to modernize the $18 trillion individual retirement account market through fully digital, customizable retirement solutions. 

NFP Appoints National Practice Leaders for Retirement, Wealth 

NFP, an Aon company, named Jessica Espinoza as retirement advisory national practice leader and Stephen Jans as wealth management national practice leader.  

Espinoza, based in Bethesda, Maryland, has been with NFP since 2006 and will now oversee the firm’s retirement advisory business nationally. Jans, based in Minneapolis, brings more than 30 years of experience and will lead the wealth management segment.  

The appointments follow the recent sale of several NFP wealth subsidiaries to Madison Dearborn Partners. NFP Executive Vice President Ed O’Malley said in a statement the moves reaffirm NFP’s commitment to retirement and wealth services, emphasizing continued focus on “integrated solutions for middle market clients.”