Cetera names new CIO

Cetera Financial Group announced Thursday that it has appointed former TD Ameritrade chief information officer Mukesh Mehta as its new CIO. He will join Cetera’s executive team and oversee all aspects of information technology for the network of four broker-dealers, which was just acquired in a $1.15 billion cash deal by Nicholas Schorsch’s broker-dealer holding company, RCS Capital Corp. The new CIO’s experience includes the development and delivery of trading and order management platforms, market data, and middle and back office operations. Previously, Mr. Mehta was managing director and CIO for TD Ameritrade, where he led application development services for all of TD Ameritrade’s institutional business. Prior to that, he was with Charles Schwab & Co., where he served in several positions, most recently as senior vice president and head of IT for Schwab’s institutional side. Leda Csanka, who was Cetera’s senior vice president and CIO, will move into the newly created position of chief technology officer and report to Mr. Mehta. She will focus on Cetera-affiliated advisers’ use of the company’s technologies. The changes come as Cetera hires several new executives to help expand the technology that supports advisers’ businesses. Joining the technology team are Mohan Gurupackiam, vice president and head of applications, delivery and operations; Derek Gledhill, senior director for adviser workstations; and Sandy Coffey, head of IT finance and governance. Mr. Gurupackiam comes from E*Trade Financial Corp., where he served most recently as director of software engineering. Mr. Gledhill was vice president of broker workstation, advice and wealth management at Ameriprise Financial Inc. Ms. Coffey previously served as an IT executive for American Honda Finance Corp./Honda Canada Finance Inc.