Retirement Industry People Moves – 1/17/25

 JPMorganChase Announces New Responsibilities for Senior Leaders

Daniel Pinto

JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced new responsibilities for several senior executives across its global financial services departments.

Daniel Pinto, president and chief operating officer, who has served the firm for more than 40 years, informed Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon of his decision to retire at the end of 2026. Pinto will relinquish his responsibilities as COO immediately and as president as of June 30. He will continue to serve the company as vice chairman.

Jennifer Piepszak

Jennifer Piepszak, currently co-CEO of JPMorganChase’s Commercial & Investment Bank, has been named the company’s new chief operating officer. She will work closely with Pinto over the next few months. Piepszak will manage and coordinate technology, operations, the chief administrative office, data and analytics, corporate strategy, and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. She will also oversee the firm’s global corporate centers in India and the Philippines, which employ more than 80,000 professionals.

Doug Petno

, currently co-head of global banking, will succeed Piepszak as co-CEO of the CIB, partnering with current CIB Co-CEO Troy Rohrbaugh to manage the business. John Simmons, currently head of commercial banking, will succeed Petno and join Filippo Gori as the new co-head of global banking, with both reporting to Petno and Rohrbaugh. 

NEPC Names Contorno Principal and Head of Defined Contribution Vendor Management

Michael Contorno

EPC LLC, an investment consulting firm, appointed Michael Contorno as a principal and head of defined contribution vendor management.

Contorno joined the firm on January 13, reporting to Bill Ryan, a partner and defined contribution team leader. Contorno will lead NEPC’s nationwide DC vendor management search practice. He will also support NEPC’s DC clients by helping them optimize relationships with recordkeepers, financial wellness providers, executive compensation plans and overall plan governance.

Contorno previously held consulting roles at Marsh & McLennan and Aon, as well as a tenure at Vanguard, where worked to modernize recordkeeping capabilities.

“Mike’s diverse background uniquely positions him to elevate NEPC’s DC vendor management services to new heights,” Ryan said in a statement.

CG Financial Services Appoints Hiipakka as President and Chief Operating Officer

Scott Hiipakka

 CG Financial Services, which manages more than $4 billion in client assets, hired Scott Hiipakka as president and chief operating officer.

Hiipakka most recently served as the CEO of the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator, a nonprofit organization that promotes economic ties between Michigan and Israel. He also serves as a major general in the Michigan Army National Guard.

“As the industry is changing fast, with large national brands consolidating smaller firms, CG wants to grow independently,” said Tony Mazzali, CG Financial Services’ CEO, in a statement. “Scott brings experience to guide teams as they adapt to challenging obstacles.”

401GO Names Smith as Chief Growth Officer

Stan Smith

Retirement plan provider 401GO announced the appointment of Stan Smith as chief growth officer.

His 26-year career includes leadership positions at Fidelity Investments, SaveDaily and DriveWealth. As CGO, Smith will work to meet 401GO’s market share growth projections while helping the company extend retirement planning to clients and partners.

In addition to leading a sales team, Smith will help 401GO diversify its revenue streams through the development of additional products tailored to underserved markets.

“This nation is facing a true retirement crisis,” Smith said in a statement. “401GO has the opportunity to provide working Americans with the tools they need to shore up their financial futures.”

Beatrice Advisors Appoints 2 Senior Partners

Mervin Burton

Peter Lupoff

Beatrice Advisors L.P., an independent, woman- and minority-owned multi-family office, announced the appointment of two senior partners, Peter Lupoff and Mervin Burton, as it expands its investment team.

Lupoff joins the firm as a partner specializing in investments and partnerships. As a member of the Beatrice executive management team and investment committee, Lupoff will collaborate with Founder Christina Lewis on organizational objectives and with Meredith Bowen, president and CEO, on investments and operational strategies. His role will also include augmenting business development and overseeing client engagement.

Burton joins the firm as a partner focused on research, leveraging more than 20 years of experience as a senior portfolio manager at various institutions, including a large foundation, an endowment, a pension fund and multiple family offices. Burton will be responsible for delivering active investment research, including asset allocation, manager selection and risk management.