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ProFunds Group has hired Richard Kendrick as managing director, marketing, in charge of all marketing for the company’s exchange-traded funds and mutual funds. He comes to the firm from RiverSource Investments, where he was vice president, asset management marketing.

Putnam to Double 401(k) Wholesalers to 10

Fidelity Investments has promoted Brian B. Hogan to president of the equity division of Fidelity Management & Research Co., the investment advisor to the firm’s mutual funds. A 15-year veteran of Fidelity, Hogan most recently was senior vice president of equity research.

T. Rowe Price’s first-quarter earnings fell 68% to $48.2 million, or 19 cents a share, from $151.5 million, or 55 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2008. Revenue fell 31% to $384.5 million, down from $559.1 million.

Putnam Names Donovan Chief Investment Officer

Legg Mason has just laid off 40 workers, most of whom worked in administrative support in Connecticut and New York. Five of the workers worked in Baltimore. None worked in investment management.

Putnam Investments plans to double its 401(k) wholesalers from five to 10 by year-end, Defined Contribution & Savings Plan Alert reports. In fact, Putnam might even hire more, and it will definitely continue to hire 401(k) wholesalers in 2010, said Edmund Murphy, head of Putnam’s 401(k) business.

MassMutual has just laid off 65 workers, with most of the layoffs occurring in its Boston office, and the cuts spanning all departments—including finance, marketing and sales.

New York Life Insurance has hired 100 staff to support sales of fixed annuities through the banks, on the heels of sales in this channel increasing 130% in 2008.

LECG Expands Platform With Hiring of Vinella

All things considered, earning $46 million in 2008 was far less than the $81 million Mario Gabelli of Gamco took home in 2007 and the $81 million he pocketed in 2002, DealBook reports, citing a proxy filing.

PIMCO has promoted 78 of its executives, with 12 now executive vice president, 24 senior vice president and 42 vice president.

Putnam has hired yet another executive from Fidelity, Walter C. Donovan, who will serve as chief investment officer. A 25-year veteran of financial services, he was president of Fidelity’s equity division, overseeing portfolio management, investment research and trading.

Barclays Global Investors has hired Stephen Jobe as director of its iShares 529 programs.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. has hired Daniel G. Faryniarz as managing director of market structure and industry relations, a new position in which he will work to help identify and develop new front-office and trading opportunities.

Putnam Hires Lewis as Director of DC Sales

One shift in distribution strategy the financial crisis has caused, which fund sales directors should take note of, is that banks are looking far more attractive to a variety of advisers and more are hiring top talent.

While most mutual fund companies struggled in 2008, John Hancock Funds finished the year in solid standing, buoyed by a strong first half and careful strategic planning. President and CEO Keith Hartstein recently spoke with Money Management Executive's John Morgan about the key areas that drove Hancock's record $8.5 billion in sales, some regulations he would like to see changed and his outlook for the rest of 2009 and beyond.

OppenheimerFunds has announced that it is making changes intended to strengthen its business operations and enhance risk management capabilities.

AllianceBernstein announced Tuesday that it eliminated 237 positions in the first quarter, ending with a staff of 4,760, down from 4,997 at the beginning of the year. Thirty-one of the positions eliminated were held by investment professionals, including analysts, portfolio manager, chief investment officers, research directors and traders.