People: Penson hires new CIO

Penson Financial Services Inc. of Dallas has hired Andrew Konchan, 36, as chief information officer.

He is responsible for tying the firm’s technology strategy directly to its business strategy, managing the tech team and project portfolio, improving tech service, process and infrastructure, creating strategic technology plans and maximizing the return on investment of technology.

Previously, Mr. Konchan served in many roles at ABN Amro of Amsterdam and its parent, Fortis Inc. of St. Johns, Newfoundland, including heading the global securities and trust service platform groups, as well as being CIO in Chicago.

Walton International Group (USA) Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz., has hired Michele Drummond, Debbie Pontikas and Ed Steffelin.

Ms. Drummond, 41, will work with Mr. Steffelin, 40, in New York on sourcing institutional capital for land development opportunities in Canada and the United States. Previously, she worked for RREEF Alternative Investments of New York, a unit of Deutsche Bank AG, and was responsible for the institutional sales team in the Southeast. Ms. Drummond’s title will be institutional sales coordinator.

Mr. Steffelin will be director of institutional sales and research. Previously, he was a managing director and portfolio manager at ICP Capital of New York.

Ms. Pontikas, 33, will serve as vice president of marketing and is responsible for building the Walton USA brand by supporting new and existing product sales through multiple channels such as advertising, public relations, marketing, communications, and the development of sales collateral and campaigns.

Previously, she was vice president of key accounts for Cole Real Estate Investments in Phoenix.

JKMilne Asset Management of Fort Myers, Fla., has hired Joe Beattie III, 53, as senior vice president of business development in Jacksonville, Fla.

He is responsible for acquiring new clients among major institutions, following up with potential clients and providing continuing client services.

Previously, Mr. Beattie was vice president of business development and client services at Northstar Capital Management Inc. in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. There, his responsibilities included being directly involved with calling on trustees and plan sponsors from a business development perspective, as well as communicating with the consultant community.

William Blair & Co. LLC of Chicago has hired Jeanne Enright, 47, as head of brand marketing and communications, responsible for internal and external communications.

Previously, she was vice president of advertising and brand services at Nuveen Investments Inc. in Chicago, where she was responsible for brand advertising for the company’s mutual funds, closed-end funds and separately managed accounts.

Robert W. Baird & Co. of Milwaukee has hired Jarrett Kovics, 36, as senior vice president and branch manager of its Dallas wealth management office.

He is responsible for general management oversight and recruiting.

Previously, Mr. Kovics was a regional manager in Dallas for Prudential Investments of Newark, N.J., overseeing institutional and retail sales of the firm’s wealth management products in the North Texas region.

Guinness Atkinson Asset Management of Woodland Hills, Calif., has hired Ian Mortimer, Tom Nelson, Will Riley and James Weir as portfolio managers based in London.

Mr. Mortimer, 29, Mr. Nelson, 30, and Mr. Riley, 32, will serve as co-portfolio managers for Guinness Atkinson’s Global Energy Fund. Previously, they were Guinness Atkinson Funds investment analysts in London, responsible for providing investment research, market analysis and tracking of long-term global trends.

Mr. Weir, 33, will serve as a co-portfolio manager for the Guinness Atkinson Asia Focus Fund, the Asia Pacific Dividend Fund and the China and Hong Kong Fund. Previously, he served as a Guinness Atkinson Funds investment analyst in London.

MiddleCove Capital of Centerbrook, Conn., has hired W. Timothy Furgueson, 42, as partner and senior portfolio manager.

He is responsible for the active management of client portfolios, ensuring that clients’ investment strategies are aligned with their financial objectives and risk tolerances.

Mr. Furgueson also leads the due-diligence process on alternative asset classes and outside investment managers.

Previously, he was a senior portfolio manager and financial planning specialist in Essex, Conn., for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC of New York. He was responsible for actively managing client portfolios on a discretionary basis.

FrontLine Compliance LLC of Leesburg, Va., has hired Beth Lehman, 39, and Kathleen McCarthy, 57, to work in the firm’s New York office.

Ms. Lehman will join the firm as a senior consultant, responsible for handling complex regulatory-compliance and enforcement matters for investment advisers and broker-dealers. Previously, she was an independent compliance consultant for State Street Global Advisors of Boston.

Ms. McCarthy will join FrontLine as a senior compliance analyst, responsible for regulatory research, and broker-dealer and investment-banking compliance matters. Previously, she was an officer and vice president of compliance for Morgan Stanley.

Sentinel Investments of Montpelier, Vt., has hired Stacey Ho, 53, as vice president and co-portfolio manager of international equities in San Francisco.

She is responsible for overall management of the fund’s assets.

Previously, Ms. Ho was a founder and portfolio manager at Perspective Asset Management in Millbrae, Calif., where she managed high-net-worth clients’ money in a global balanced-fund portfolio.

Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Horsham, Pa., has hired Jonathan Berniger, 40, as sales manager for 21st Century Financial Inc., Penn Mutual’s career agency office in Columbus, Ohio.

He will provide coaching and developmental training to new hires.

Previously, Mr. Berniger worked as a career development supervisor in Dublin, Ohio, for Guardian Life Insurance Co. of New York. He specialized in recruiting and training.

In addition, Penn Mutual has hired William R. Chesney, 42, as managing partner at Professional Economic Growth Group, the company’s agency in Edison, N.J.

Previously, Mr. Chesney was a district manager in Morristown, N.J., for Axa Financial Inc. of New York.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association of New York and Washington has hired Cheryl Crispin, 46, as executive vice president of communications in Washington.

Previously, she was senior vice president of communications at the Mortgage Bankers Association in Washington.