Industry heavyweights join Smart to form inaugural US executive team

The newly appointed Executive Team will work to launch Smart’s modern recordkeeping and retirement income solutions to the US market. Smart's recordkeeping solution for pooled employer plans (“PEPs”) will launch in 2021, aligning with the SECURE Act's roll-out.‍

Jodan Ledford, CEO of Smart's US business, says:

“We have built a team with a breadth of experience across retirement and financial services to ensure we can make the largest possible impact on closing the US retirement coverage gap. I am honored to work alongside these impressive industry leaders.” 

Smart’s US Executive Team includes: 

• Catherine Reilly, Director of Retirement Solutions: Most recently, Catherine was Global Head of Research for the Defined Contribution team at State Street, responsible for thought leadership and strategic development. In this role, Catherine oversaw the $70bn SSGA target-date suite. Prior, she was Chief Economist of Pohjola Asset Management ($40bn AuM) in Finland and a Management Consultant at McKinsey & Co., Inc in the Helsinki office. Catherine is a CFA charter holder.

• Grant Chamberlain, Director of Corporate Strategy: Most recently, Grant was the Head of Corporate Development at Legal & General Investment Management (LGIMA). Joining LGIMA shortly after its inception, Grant also held positions leading Data Management and Technology. Prior to LGIMA, Grant worked at UBS Global Asset Management as Director, Head of Change Management in the global operations function.

• Lawrence Griffin, US General Counsel: Most recently, Lawrence was General Counsel at Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc where he also served as Chief Compliance Officer. Lawrence has been a lawyer for more than 30 years, and has spent the last 15 years specialising in compliance, risk and governance, and IT security/data protection for financial services organizations.

• Rob Stanley, Chief Operating Officer: A veteran of the record-keeping industry, Rob spent 18 years in John Hancock’s Wealth and Asset Management organization, the last 13 years in the $180B+ Retirement Plan Services business, including nine years leading JHRPS' Sales Operations and Infrastructure. Most recently, Rob founded Inflection Point Consulting where he helped clients implement key strategic initiatives to face the challenges in a rapidly changing industry.

• Walter Womersley, General Manager: Walter joined Smart at the beginning of 2019 as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Risk Officer of its sister UK asset manager, EC2 Asset Management. Before joining Smart, he spent seven years in Asia launching a macro hedge fund, WHARD Stewart, in 2011. Previously, Walter was Head of Credit Trading and Structuring at Standard Bank Asia in Hong Kong (“HK”) and previous to that, Head of Structuring Asia for Rabobank in Singapore and HK. 

Catherine Reilly, Director of Retirement Solutions, said,

“The SECURE Act is a pivotal step towards expanding access to retirement solutions for more Americans. Smart's technology is the only US offering purpose-built for pooled employer plans (PEPs) and the facilitation of lifetime income in retirement plans that the SECURE Act allows, and we are energized about entering the US market at this important juncture with such a strong team.