Retirement Industry People Moves

Former BlackRock Head of iShares Hired 

Robert Nestor

Never miss a story — sign up for PLANSPONSOR newsletters to keep up on the latest retirement plan benefits news. 

Turing Technology Associates has hired Robert Nestor as senior managing director and chief commercial officer at the financial technology firm, effective August 15, a spokesperson confirmed by email.

Nestor is responsible for driving the commercial side of the business—including product and services, sales and marketing and business administration, says the spokesperson. He reports to Vadim Fishman, co-founder, CEO and chief technology officer at Turing.

Turning provides financial technology through artificial intelligence and advanced machine learning processes focused on asset management and technology innovation, licensing its’ technology and intellectual property to investment management, insurance, brokerage, and RIA/wealth firms to support investment solutions.

Nestor was previously self-employed. Prior to that, Nestor was the president and head of financial products provider Direxion and worked at BlackRock in several roles for more than a decade, attaining the final title of managing director and head of iShares and Smart Beta.

Principal Announces Dessouki as New Chief Marketing Officer

Mona Dessouki

Mona Dessouki will join Principal Asset Management as chief marketing officer, responsible for driving global marketing efforts across key market segments.

“Mona brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and perspectives to Principal, all of which will help elevate our marketing strategy to reach and engage current and prospective clients with Principal,” said Ellen Shumway, senior executive managing director and global head of product and marketing for Principal Asset Management.

Based in New York, Mona will report to Shumway and lead an asset management marketing team of over 35 individuals across the United States, Europe, and Asia, according to Principal.  

Mona has over 20 years of marketing experience. She joins Principal from J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where she served as executive director of acquisition marketing and digital experience.

Puerto Joins J.P. Morgan Private Bank as Head of Retirement Plan Solutions

Abe Puerto has started as head of retirement plan solutions at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, according to the company.

Puerto will be responsible for leading a team of retirement plan consultants and investment consulting specialists. They work with the Private Bank’s wealth advisers to provide retirement plan solutions to business owner clients. Puerto joins the firm with over two decades of experience in the retirement industry, most recently from UBS, where he was head of retirement plan provider relationship management.

Based in New York City, Puerto will report to Chris Fletcher, global head of the private bank’s outsourced chief investment office.

Innovest Bolsters West Coast Team

Investment consultant Innovest Portfolio Solutions has hired Tomas Jansson as a vice president and retirement plan consultant, expanding the West Coast retirement team, the firm announced in a press release.

Jansson joined Innovest on Monday, July 10, says a spokesperson by email.

In the role, Jansson is responsible for helping clients design, optimize and govern the retirement plan benefits offered to employees.

Jansson is a member of Innovest’s retirement plan practice group, according to the release.

Tomas Jansson

“Innovest is excited to expand our west coast team with a veteran like Tomas Jansson,” states Wendy Dominguez, Innovest President and Co-Founder, in the press release “With his significant retirement plan expertise and years of experience, Tomas will help us continue to provide our clients with the industry’s best retirement plan consulting services. Tomas is a great addition to the Innovest team.”

Jansson has more than 20 years of experience in the retirement plan industry, working at First Republic Private Wealth Management working prior to joining Innovest. Jansson also worked at the Newport Group for fourteen years and as a financial adviser with the Merrill Lynch global private client group.

Jansson also worked at the Newport Group for fourteen years and as a financial adviser with the Merrill Lynch global private client group.

Innovest is based in Denver. The firm maintains offices in Colorado, California, Florida, and Arizona.