Thomas Williams was named executive director of the $14.4 billion Hawaii Employees' Retirement System, Honolulu, effective Nov. 2, a spokeswoman said.
Mr. Williams replaces Wesley Machida, who resigned at the end of 2014 to become the state's director of finance and head of the Department of Budget and Finance.
Kanoe Margol, the deputy executive director, will continue to serve as interim executive director until Nov 2. After that, she will stay on as deputy executive director.
Mr. Williams has held a number of pension-related public- and private-sector roles. He was executive director of the $7.9 billion Wyoming Retirement System, Cheyenne from 2008 to 2013; a board member at the $2.1 billion Denver Employees Retirement Plan; and a vice president at TIAA-CREF.
Executive search firm Inkinen & Associates assisted.
