Retirement Industry People Moves – 4/24/2026

Kristi Higgins Joins Raymond James Investment Management as Head of ETF Strategy

Kristi Higgins

Raymond James Investment Management named Kristi Higgins as its head of exchange-traded-fund strategy, effective immediately.

Higgins will support the expansion of the company’s active ETF platform and report to Johan Grahn, head of ETFs. She will also collaborate with Matt Johnson, head of commercial strategy, and Susan Walzer, president of the firm’s family of funds.

Higgins brings prior experience in launching and scaling ETF businesses, including roles at Dimensional Fund Advisors as a senior investment strategist and at Allianz Investment Management as a vice president. She has contributed to bringing more than 30 ETFs to market across asset classes.

Marsh Appoints Simon Camaj to Lead Mercer’s US Health Practice

Simon Camaj

Mercer LLC, a Marsh business, announced the promotion of Simon Camaj to U.S. health leader, effective May 1. Camaj will report to Susan Potter, president of U.S. and Canada, and will be based in Chicago.

Mercer’s U.S. health practice partners with employers to deliver data-driven, artificial-intelligence-enabled health and benefits solutions, aiming to reduce costs, improve care quality and simplify the employee experience.

Camaj brings more than 20 years of experience in health care and employee benefits, including senior roles at Aetna and leadership positions within Mercer’s U.S. West zone for the health practice and the U.S. life, absence and disability and voluntary benefits team.

Camaj succeeds Ed Lehman, who will remain with the firm through April to support the transition.

SILAC Names Kevin Mechtley Incoming President

Kevin Mechtley

SILAC [Sterling Investors Life Insurance Co.] Insurance Co. appointed Kevin Mechtley as incoming president, effective May 4.

Mechtley will lead SILAC’s product development, marketing and distribution efforts, reporting to G. Daniel Acker, the company’s current president and chief marketing officer, who will be promoted to CEO.

With more than 20 years of experience in the fixed-annuity industry, Mechtley most recently served as vice president of business development and chief growth officer at Sammons Financial Group. He also held roles at Athene and Aviva.

Zinnia Names Ann Nanda as Chief Growth Officer

Ann Nanda

Zinnia Corporate Holdings LLC appointed Ann Nanda as chief growth officer.

Nanda will head Zinnia’s growth strategy, focusing on scaling market adoption, deepening client partnerships and expanding the company’s leadership in the life and annuity sector.

Known for building partnerships and translating market shifts into scalable commercial strategies, she brings experience across insurance, retirement, distribution and growth strategy.