Merrill Names New Head of Platforms and Capabilities

Merrill Lynch has appointed Casey Franz to serve as its head of Platforms and Capabilities, replacing Kabir Sethi, who recently left Merrill to join LPL Financial.

Sethi, who was managing director and head of digital wealth management at Merrill, was named managing director and chief product officer at LPL last month.

Franz will now lead Merrill’s digital transformation strategy and ongoing enhancements to its platforms, helping advisors provide a superior client experience that the firm described as “high tech and high touch.”

During her 11 years with the company, she has held various digital, client service, product and operations roles across wealth management, most recently serving as managing director of operations optimization for more than two years, according to her LinkedIn profile.

In her new role, she is reporting to Kirstin Hill, Merrill chief operating officer, and will “partner closely” with Christian Kitchell, chief experience officer for the company’s wealth management businesses, the firm said.

“We are continuously investing in and advancing our digital capabilities to surpass the expectations of clients and advisors,” Hill said in a statement. “Casey’s experience and track record leading transformative initiatives make her the ideal person for this role.”

She has wide experience integrating wealth management platforms and experiences across the enterprise for the benefit of Merrill clients and advisors, the company said.

Merrill had $1.2 trillion in assets under management, while the firm’s Private Bank division had $334 billion in AUM, at the end of the first quarter, the company said last month.

(Pictured: Casey Franz, Merrill’s head of Platforms and Capabilities; Photo supplied by Merrill Lynch)