HandshakeThis week in new hires, Mariner Wealth Advisors announced its acquisition of a majority interest in Orizon Investment Counsel’s wealth management division; Lynne Ford joined Calvert Investments; Greenspring announced a number of new hires and a promotion; and Jerry Miller was named senior advisor at Lightyear Capital.

Also, Susan Chung became chief operating officer at HNW; Pete D’Angio joined Pentegra Retirement Services; Western and Southern Group named two new executives; and Christian Gabrielsen joined the Lightstone Group.

Orizon Investment Counsel Joins Mariner Wealth Advisors

Mariner Wealth Advisors announced Monday that it is acquiring a majority interest in the wealth management division of Omaha-based Orizon Investment Counsel. Orizon, with 14 wealth professionals, will change its name to Mariner Wealth Advisors.

Mariner’s services include wealth transfer, risk management, philanthropy, investment advisory services, executive compensation and benefits planning, business succession planning, family office services and insurance consulting.

Lynne Ford Tapped to Head Calvert Investments Distribution and Marketing

Calvert Investments announced Monday that Lynne Ford has been named to the newly created position of executive vice president and head of distribution and will lead a team that includes retail sales, institutional sales, marketing and public relations. She will also be a member of Calvert’s management committee.

Ford has more than 20 years of experience in investment sales and marketing. Most recently, she served as executive vice president and CEO of individual retirement at ING US. Before that, she spent 19 years at Wachovia, which merged with Wells Fargo in late 2008, and served in a number of executive capacities within its investment and distribution organizations. As EVP, retail retirement, she led both the annuity and IRA businesses; prior to that, she spent 10 years as senior vice president and managing director for Evergreen Investments.

Greenspring Announces New Hires, Promotion

Greenspring Wealth Management recently announced one internal promotion and the addition of three new team members.

Laura Stoner of the Towson, Md., office, who joined Greenspring in April 2010 as client service manager, has been promoted to operations manager. In this role, she is responsible for the firm’s operational and administrative function along with client service for its private client group.

Molly Goetz joined Greenspring in January as a financial advisor in the private client group. Prior to joining Greenspring, she worked in a variety of capacities in the institutional equity division of Deutsche Bank, and most recently was an associate at a private equity firm. She is based in the Towson, Md., office.

Kelly Montgomery joined in April as an administrative associate after working for five years at Grace Fellowship Church. At Grace she held administrative positions in two departments and gained experience in volunteer and event management as well as corporate communications. In her new role, she supports administrative and client service efforts of both the private client and institutional client groups and works in the Towson, Md., office. Evan Melcher joined in May as a retirement plan consultant in the institutional client group. Earlier, he worked for 11 years at SunTrust Bank, where he spent the majority of his career as a director in the employee benefit solutions division. He was also a member of the investment oversight committee for the SunTrust Institutional 401(k). He is responsible for leading business development and marketing efforts in the southeast market and works in the Watkinsville, Ga., office.

Lightyear Capital Names Jerry Miller Senior Advisor

Lightyear Capital announced Monday the appointment of Jerry Miller, former president and CEO of Van Kampen Investments, as senior advisor on behalf of its affiliated funds.

Prior to Van Kampen, Miller was a division director for Morgan Stanley’s global wealth management group and a member of its executive and operating committees. Earlier, he had a 21-year career at Merrill Lynch with multiple leadership roles in both their investment and wealth management businesses.

HNW Names Susan Chung Chief Operating Officer

HNW announced Tuesday that Susan Chung has been appointed chief operating officer. In that role, she will be responsible for the firm’s agency operations, business growth, talent development and staff retention. She will serve as a member of the general management team and report directly to CEO Stacey Haefele.

With more than 20 years of marketing and management experience, Chung most recently served as senior partner and managing director at Ogilvy and Mather. During her seven years there, she led integrated, cross-functional teams. Prior to Ogilvy, she served as the North American brand director for Intel at Euro RSCG and senior vice president, group account director at Hill Holliday.

Pete D’Angio Joins Pentegra Retirement Services as National Director

Pentegra Retirement Services announced on July 5 that Pete D’Angio has joined as national director, not-for-profit markets. With more than 15 years of industry experience, D’Angio will spearhead Pentegra’s efforts in establishing a presence in the “small,” not-for-profit ERISA retirement plan market.

Prior to joining Pentegra, D’Angio was with TIAA-CREF, where he was southern regional sales director, responsible for business development in 17 states. He will be based in Tampa, Fla. New Executives Named for W&S Agency Group and Lafayette Life

Western and Southern Financial Group announced on July 5 new executive appointments at two of its life insurance member companies.

Anthony Garcia, with 26 years of experience in the financial services industry, will join in August as the new president of W&S Agency Group; he will be based in the Cincinnati area. He has held senior management roles with Allstate Insurance Company, Household International/HSBC and Healthmarkets. His most recent position was as president and CEO for TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Co.

Bryan Dunn, currently president of W&S Agency Group, a position he has held since 2004, will be named president of Lafayette Life Insurance Co., succeeding Jerry Stillwell, who has announced plans to retire. Dunn has been with Western & Southern Financial Group since 1996. Prior to that, he worked for Prudential Life Insurance Co. after playing professional basketball in Europe. Stillwell will assist with the transition during the second half of 2012 and will retire after 15 years with Lafayette Life at year end.

Christian Gabrielsen Joins Lightstone Group

The Lightstone Group announced Monday the appointment of Christian Gabrielsen as president of the company’s securities division.

Gabrielsen brings more than two decades of experience raising capital for leading financial services companies in separately managed accounts, variable annuities and real estate, and was previously executive vice president and national sales manager at Thompson National Properties. Previously he served as executive vice president and national sales manager at Knight Capital/Clearbrook Financial. Prior to that, he served as national sales manager at Lincoln Financial. Earlier in his career, he served as senior vice president at AXA Equitable.

Read the July 5 New Hire Roundup at AdvisorOne.