People on the move: February 11

Mercer LLC of New York has hired Pam Jeffords, 45, as a partner and senior client manager.

Based in Denver, she is responsible for building and strengthening client relationships in the Central region, which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Previously, Ms. Jeffords was vice president of sales at RAS & Associates of Denver.

JPMorgan Chase and Co. of New York has promoted Kevin Watters, 44, to chief executive of mortgage banking, from head of mortgage originations and the customer experience across mortgage banking at the company.

He will oversee the integration of the mortgage banking unit into the consumer and community banking unit as one line of business and also will continue to play a key role in the mortgage banking unit’s return to profitability.

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. has promoted three executives.

Timothy F. Keaney, 51, is chief executive of investment services and will be aligning the company’s asset-servicing, corporate trust, depositary re- ceipts, global markets, global collateral services, broker-dealer services and Pershing businesses under his leadership. He was vice chairman and chief executive of asset serving.

Karen B. Peetz, 57, is president of BNY Mellon and will lead global client management, regional management, treasury services and human resources. She was vice chairman and chief executive of financial services and human resources.

Brian T. Shea, 52, is president of investment services and head of BNY Mellon’s global operations and technology group, and will continue his responsibilities as chief executive of BNY Mellon’s Pershing LLC subsidiary and as head of broker-dealer and adviser services.

Washington Wealth Management LLC of San Diego has hired David Richman, 49, as market area director for Southern California.

He is ex-pected to employ his years of experience and deep business relationships to attract financial advisers to the firm and drive growth in his region.

Previously, Mr. Richman was an Irvine, Calif.-based complex director in both the Irvine and Pasadena, Calif., markets for Morgan Stanley of New York.

Cowen Group Inc. of New York has hired Paul Silverstein, 48, as a managing director in the equity research department.

He will specialize in data networking and wire line equipment, focusing on the networking and communications infrastructure sectors.

Previously, Mr. Silverstein was a New York-based director in the equity research department at Credit Suisse Group AG of Zurich.

New York Life Insurance Co. has named three senior vice presidents.

Annamaria Banaszek, 44, is head of the insurance group’s wealth management department and is responsible for wealth management and in- vestment advisory services, including Eagle Strategies LLC. Previously, she was a first vice president at the company.

Craig DeSanto, 36, is responsible for the group’s life insurance product management, including managing all accounting profit and loss statements for life products sold through the company’s career agency system, identifying segmented market opportunities and developing product strategies and solutions to address targeted consumer and market needs. Previ- ously, he was a first vice president and head of the company’s affluent-market business.

John DiRago, 44, is head of the group’s service department, and will oversee about 2,100 new businesses and customer service professionals across the country. Previously, he was a first vice president at the company.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch of New York has hired Jeff Cimini, 48, to be a managing director and head of personal retirement on its personal wealth and retirement team.

Based in Boston, Mr. Cimini will work with the personal-retirement team to tailor outcome-driven solutions best suited for key client segments and advisers in areas of greatest need and opportunity.

Previously, he was president of Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Co. of Boston.

Genworth Financial Wealth Management Inc. of Pleasant Hill, Calif., has hired two senior executives.

Daniel Courtney, 50, is president of the firm’s affiliate investment arm, Genworth Financial Asset Management. Based in both Pleasant Hill and Encino, Calif., he will focus on executing the business plan and growth strategy, including product development and target markets.

Mr. Courtney also will lead efforts to support training and education of advisers about the benefits and characteristics of the investment solutions offered by GFAM on the Genworth Wealth Management platform.

Previously, he was an executive vice president at Resource America Inc. of Philadelphia.

James Hanna, 49, is chief technology officer, responsible for continuing to build a client experience for advisers using the Genworth Wealth Management platform. Previously, he was a San Ramon, Calif.-based executive vice president and senior technology officer at Bank of the West of San Francisco.

Beacon Pointe Advisors of Newport Beach, Calif., has hired Regina Fales, 44, as an institutional consultant, specializing in serving endowments and foundations.

Previously, she was a director based in the San Francisco office of Commonfund of Wilton, Conn.

The TCW Group Inc. of Los Angeles has hired Meredith S. Jackson, 53, as executive vice president and general counsel.

She will serve as the firm’s chief attorney on issues ranging from negotiating strategic alliances and partnerships to developing new investment funds, structuring transactions, implementing management plans and advising on opportunities as they arise. Ms. Jackson also will manage the firm’s internal legal department and coordinate outside legal services.

Previously, she was a partner and head of the debt finance practice at Irell & Manella LLP of Los Angeles.

Pioneer Investments of Boston has hired Jon Bailie, 49, as head of Western Europe and Latin America.

Based in London, he will lead Pioneer’s distribution efforts for all of Western Europe, as well as its growing presence in Latin America. Mr. Bailie will be a member of Pioneer’s management committee.

Previously, he was based in London as global head of distribution at Axa Investment Managers, part of Axa SA of Paris.

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