New Hire Roundup: Ohio Securities Commissioner Andrea Seidt to Lead NASAA

Countryman has been the deputy chief counsel in DERA since February 2012. In her heightened role, she will provide advice and guidance to staff within DERA and across the agency regarding the legal aspects of integrating economic analysis and data analytics into the SEC’s work, particularly rulemaking and policy development. She also will advise the chief economist and other division staff on legal issues implicated by the division’s broad mandate.

She began working at the SEC in July 2010 as a counsel to Commissioner Kathleen Casey. She later was a counsel to Commissioner Daniel Gallagher before joining DERA. Prior to the SEC, she worked at the law firm Gibson Dunn and represented clients in a variety of appellate and administrative matters. Earlier, she clerked for Judge Emilio Garza on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Martinez will oversee both enforcement and examinations in the Salt Lake office. She joined the SEC staff in 2002 as trial counsel in the Salt Lake office, and became assistant director in 2010. Since then, she has since supervised the office’s enforcement program. She also has supervised some investigations in the SEC’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) specialized unit, which focuses on cases involving bribery of foreign officials, in addition to numerous others. As trial counsel, Msshe successfully litigated cases involving insider trading, FCPA violations, and violations of Regulation S-P.

Before joining the SEC staff, Martinez was in private practice. She began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Christine Durham of the Utah Supreme Court.

U.S. Bank Announces Benedict Promotion in Minneapolis, Phillips Hire in Seattle

U.S. Bank announced Monday that Bryan Benedict has been promoted to private banking managing director for the Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank in Minneapolis, and Kane Phillips has been hired as wealth management consultant for the Private Client Reserve in Seattle.

In his new role, Benedict will lead led a team of private bankers serving the needs of high-net-worth individuals and their families. He brings several years of experience as a private banker with the Private Client Reserve. Previously, he was a commercial banker with Excel Bank and a bank examiner with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

Phillips will work to create effective connections among prospective and existing clients within the Puget Sound region. He has more than 25 years of experience in the financial service industry. Prior to joining, he was market director for Washington Wealth Management. He has also held positions with Charles Schwab and Co., and Smith Barney. NAMIC Adds John Hair to Washington Office

John Hair, a veteran lobbyist with nearly eight years of experience, is joining the Washington, D.C., office of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) as its newest federal affairs director. He will focus on helping the industry pass a reauthorization of the Terrorism Reinsurance Insurance Act, and fighting to prevent any rollbacks in the recent reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program.

Hair comes to NAMIC from the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, where he served as director of government relations. He also previously worked at Carrying Capacity Network and at the Florida-based law firm Aylstock, Witkin & Sasser.

Lincoln Financial Advisors Appoints Greg Smith Managing Principal

Lincoln Financial Network, the retail sales and financial planning affiliate of Lincoln Financial Group, announced that Greg Smith has been appointed managing principal of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. (LFA), serving as market leader in the Minneapolis area. He will report to Mike May, managing director of LFA’s midwest regional planning group, which includes the Minneapolis regional offices.

Smith brings more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining, he served as senior vice president and channel head at several firms including Crump Life Insurance Services in Schaumberg, Ill., Sun Life Financial in Boston, ING in Minneapolis and Lincoln Financial Distributors in Philadelphia.

Read the Oct. 3 New Hire Roundup at ThinkAdvisor.