Alan H. Van Noord was named director of the Bureau of Investments in the Michigan Department of Treasury.
Mr. Van Noord, administrator, stock division of the bureau, replaces Barry Stevens, who retired last year.
His duties include acting as chief executive and chief investment officer of the state's $42 billion in retirement assets, as well as oversight of investment for state general funds, an education trust, and the state lottery.
Mr. Van Noord's "previous experience, combined with a keen understanding of both the financial markets and the state's investment objectives, make him the ideal candidate for the post," Michigan Treasurer Douglas B. Roberts said in a statement.
In Mr. Van Noord's current position, he directed all research, analysis and trading activities for the retirement system's equity portfolios. He also has worked as an investment analyst supervisor for the Treasury.
Michigan executives haven't determined how they will name his replacement.
Peter Katseff was appointed as the first director of real estate for the $19.6 billion Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, Nashville, said Tom Milne, chief investment officer.
The retirement system last year received legislative approval to invest in real estate and now has a 5% allocation, said Mr. Milne.
Tennessee is starting from scratch in real estate, he said.
The first order of business will be the selection of a real estate consultant and the drafting of a policy statement and investment guidelines, said Mr. Milne.
A search for real estate advisers will follow, he said.
The retirement system has been holding informal discussions with different real estate consultants before deciding if a request for proposals for these services will be issued, said Mr. Milne.
"We are trying to feel them out and determine if we need one," said Mr. Milne. "It is likely we will, and an RFP will be issued at some point in time."
Mr. Katseff was the director of real estate for the National Electrical Benefit Fund, Washington.
Jennifer Netterville, chief investment officer for the $9 billion Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, will retire June 30. Ms. Netterville joined the system as an accountant in 1974 and became chief investment officer in 1977.
The board of trustees is searching and plans to name a new chief investment officer before June.
Peter L. Sereda joined Telephone and Data Systems Inc., Chicago, as vice president and treasurer. He will be responsible for the management of $140 million in defined contribution assets, which include the plans of its subsidiaries, United States Cellular Corp. and Aerial Communications Inc.
He replaces Ronald Webster, who left to join Twenty-First Century as chief financial officer.
Prior to joining TDS, Mr. Sereda was vice president of finance-operations and treasurer, for Specialty Foods Corp. Sean Stack replaces him at the company.
Michael Troutman, assistant to the president for the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Minneapolis, was appointed to the Minnesota Investment Advisory Council, which oversees the $31 billion Minnesota State Board of Investment, St. Paul. He replaces University of Minnesota finance professor Michael Stutzer, who resigned.
Chuck Snavely joined Hussmann International, Bridgeton, Mo., as vice president-treasurer, a new position for the company that recently was spun off from Whitman Corp. He will oversee the company's newly created $125 million defined benefit plan.
Mr. Snavely was treasurer at Duchossis Industries Inc., Elmhurst, Ill., where he has yet to be replaced. At Duchossis, he oversaw the company's $120 million defined benefit plan.
Gary Fields, financial director for the Bay City (Mich.) Police and Fire Retirement System, left to join an accounting firm. Cathy Szostak, accounting analyst, will assume oversight of the $60 million fund in the interim. She said the search for his replacement is expected to take about two months.
Thomas J. Steffanci joined fixed-income management firm Anhalt/ O'Connell Inc., Los Angeles, as a partner. The name of the firm, an affiliate of Quadra Partners, will change to Anhalt/O'Connell & Steffanci. Mr. Steffanci had been managing private investment portfolios since leaving his post as director of fixed-income at Fidelity Investments, Boston, in 1995.
Mark H. Williamson will succeed Dan J. Hesser as president and chief executive officer of INVESCO Funds Group Inc., Denver. Mr. Hesser will remain chairman until his retirement at the end of 1998.
Mr. Williamson had been chairman and chief executive officer of the mutual fund and brokerage subsidiaries of NationsBank, Charlotte, N.C.
At NationsBank, Robert H. Gordon was named to succeed Mr. Williamson. Mr. Gordon, as president and director of NationsBanc Advisors, will oversee the Nations Fund family of mutual funds. He had been director of marketing and product development.
A spokeswoman said a replacement for Mr. Gordon has yet to be named.
William C. Coleman was appointed president and chief executive officer of Hancock Natural Resource Group, Boston, a timberland and farmland management money manager.
He replaces William Gordon, who will become non-executive chairman of the firm, said Scott Sacco, a spokesman. Mr. Coleman formerly was president of MarketPlace Development, which develops, leases and manages public spaces at airports.
Evelyn Lapham joined Provident Investment Counsel Inc., Pasadena, Calif., as a senior vice president and portfolio manager. She will manage the new PIC Mid-Cap Fund. Ms. Lapham previously was a portfolio manager at Hughes Investment Management Co., Los Angeles. A Hughes spokeswoman declined to comment regarding a replacement for Ms. Lapham.
Laura Allen joined John Hancock Funds, Boston, as a senior vice president and portfolio manager on its small-cap growth team.
The team manages the John Hancock Emerging Growth and Small Capitalization Funds, an institutional fund and several institutional separate accounts.
Ms. Allen previously was a vice president and associate partner at Wellington Management Co. The company did not return calls by press time regarding Ms. Allen's replacement.
Nathan Sax joined Pittsburgh-based, C.S. McKee's fixed-income group as a vice president and portfolio manager. He will manage intermediate and broad market fixed-income portfolios and will be responsible for investment decisions on particular market sectors. He fills a position that had been vacant for eight months.
Previously, he was a vice president and portfolio manager at Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co., Baltimore, where his replacement is still being sought.
Susan E. Skerritt joined Treasury Strategies Inc. as its fourth partner. She was a principal at Morgan Stanley & Co., New York, where she worked in bank, insurance and pension custodial relationships.
Ms. Skerritt will be the only New York-based member of the Chicago-based firm
Her replacement at Morgan Stanley has not yet been named, a spokeswoman said.
