Specifically, James Axford, formerly a senior vice president with Pioneer Investments, has been named Defined Contribution Consultant Relations Manager, and will work closely with advisors, consultants, and recordkeeping platforms nationally to support the sales of Putnam’s investment-only retirement business. Axford reports to Peter Whitman, Putnam Investments Head of Defined Contribution Investment Only.
Also, David Scheetz and Edward Deeds have joined the firm from Bank of New York Mellon and ADP Retirement Services, respectively, and serve as Regional Defined Contribution Directors, focused on growing the sales of Putnam’s full-service 401(k) among advisors. Both report directly to Putnam Investments Defined Contribution Advisor-Sold National Sales Manager James Brockelman.
Scheetz, who was responsible for Bank of New York Mellon’s Defined Contribution Investment-Only business in the Mid-Atlantic, will be responsible for Putnam’s Mid-Atlantic region of Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Deeds had previously served as a Regional Sales Manager for ADP Retirement Services, overseeing a team of regional sales representatives. He is based in Cincinnati and will be responsible for expanding Putnam’s advisor relationships in Ohio, Michigan, Western Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Indiana.
According to Edmund F. Murphy, III, Head of Defined Contribution, Putnam Investments, the firm will continue to seek new hires in step with its ongoing build-out of its retirement business.
