David Kiddie will take over as CIO of equities at ABN AMRO Asset Management in early 2007, confirmed Emma Oakman, spokeswoman. He will replace Kevin Smith, who is leaving to devote more time to his 7-year-old son, who has a rare and incurable medical condition, according to a news release. Mr. Kiddie will report to Sarah Russell, CEO of ABN AMRO Asset Management. "Kevin has been a valuable member of the management team, and we respect the difficult choice that he has had to face," Ms. Russell said in the release. Mr. Kiddie is head of equities at Baring Asset Management. He will be replaced by Tim Scholefield, head of global equities, Baring' spokeswoman Marisa Elliott said. Mr. Scholefield will retain his current responsibilities.
John Grady joined Nationwide Mutual Insurance as transition manager to assist Nationwide in managing its Gartmore U.S. money management unit through any potential transition, said Nationwide spokesman Eric Hardgrove. Nationwide Mutual and its listed subsidiary, Nationwide Financial Services, announced Thursday that both entities had hired investment bankers to advise them on the possible transfer of Gartmore's $25 billion in retail mutual fund operations to Nationwide Financial. Nationwide Mutual will also consider strategic options for the roughly $20 billion in institutional asset management businesses owned by Gartmore. Mr. Grady was president and CEO of Constellation Funds Group, which was acquired in March by Touchstone Advisors. Mr. Grady declined comment, deferring questions to Nationwide's Mr. Hardgrove.
Patrice Ellis was named senior vice president and head of client services at Prudential Retirement, said Darrell Oliver, spokesman. It is a new position. Ms. Ellis was senior vice president of service and technology for the investment products division at Hartford Life Insurance. Tim Benedict, spokesman for Hartford Life, declined to say who replaced Ms. Ellis.
Andrew Boedecker was rehired by Fund Evaluation Group as senior operations manager, confirmed CEO Scott Harsh. Mr. Boedecker will be responsible for trading, portfolio management and operational oversight at FEG Advisors, the consultant's manager-of-managers unit. He reports to Gary Price, managing principal. Mr. Boedecker was a registered representative for brokerage operations for FEG until last year; Mr. Harsh was not able to provide further details by press time.
Nicholas J. Colas was named director of research for BNY Jaywalk, a subsidiary of brokerage and investment technology solutions firm BNY ConvergEx Group, confirmed Andrew Sprung, spokesman. Mr. Colas will develop and market services that match research from BNY Jaywalk's independent equity researchers with the needs of BNY ConvergEx Group's institutional clients. It is a new position. He will report to John D. Meserve, chairman of BNY Jaywalk and a director of BNY ConvergEx Group. Mr. Colas was director of equity research at Rochdale Securities. Kevin Cassidy, COO of Rochdale Securities, was not immediately available for comment at press time.
Alexander F. Cohen was named deputy general counsel for legal policy and administrative practice at the SEC, a new position, according to an SEC news release. Mr. Cohen is currently a partner in the Hong Kong office of the law firm of Latham & Watkins, where he is co-chair of the firm's corporate finance practice group.
