Clearstead’s advisor recruitment head takes managing director role at Cresset

Cresset has appointed Albert Leshinsky as managing director and head of corporate development, recruiting the former Clearstead Advisors executive to spearhead its national strategy for attracting and integrating advisory teams.

Leshinsky, who will be based in New York, is tasked with furthering Cresset’s expansion by bringing in advisors who align with the firm’s client-first philosophy, according to a statement from the firm on Monday.

Leshinsky previously served as senior managing director of advisor recruiting at Clearstead – a role he'd just taken on in March.

His nearly two decades of experience in wealth management recruiting and corporate development includes prior roles at JPMorgan Chase, which acquired his prior firm First Republic in 2023, and UBS.

Cresset, which reported more than $78 billion in assets as of November 1, but has grown rapidly over the past eight years, drawing advisory teams from across the country. In August, the client and employee-owned RIA announced plans to merge with Monticello Associates in a transaction expected to form a new entity with nearly $200 billion in combined assets.

The firm’s expansion comes amid heightened competition for top advisor talent, with multi-family offices and RIAs seeking to differentiate themselves through culture, leadership, and long-term vision.

Jessica Malkin, chief growth officer at Cresset, said in a statement that the firm was “built by clients, for clients,” and that its clarity of purpose continues to attract advisors who want to serve clients “without compromise.” She added that Leshinsky’s “integrity, insight, and deep industry experience will strengthen our ability to connect with teams who share our entrepreneurial mindset and client-first values.”

Leshinsky said he has focused his career on “creating opportunities for exceptional advisors to do their best work for clients.” He described Cresset’s culture and commitment to independence as representing “the future of multi-family offices,” and said he looks forward to helping the firm grow by introducing more leading teams to its platform.

Founded in 2017, Cresset has established itself as a major player in the RIA space, regularly appearing on top lists by Barron's and Forbes. Cresset’s model emphasizes employee and client ownership, with a stated goal of building a firm designed to last more than one hundred years.

The appointment of Leshinsky follows a series of executive hires and promotions at Cresset over the past year. Malkin, who has been with Cresset since 2019, was named chief growth officer in October last year, expanding her responsibilities beyond chief marketing officer to include strategic growth initiatives and digital marketing.

Mike Silverman was named chief investment officer as part of a C-suite shakeup in July, succeeding founding partner Jack Ablin, who transitioned to the newly created role of chief investment strategist. Silverman joined Cresset in 2024 through its acquisition of CH Investment Partners and brings more than thirty years of investment experience, including a significant tenure at Crow Holdings.

Amy Hong, who joined Cresset as chief compliance officer in September last year, was also promoted to chief operating officer in July. Hong previously held senior roles at JPMorgan Chase and First Republic Bank. Earlier this year, Cresset also hired Melissa Karetny as chief people officer, with responsibility for people strategy and talent development. Karetny previously worked at JPMorgan Chase.

Leshinsky’s move comes as Clearstead continues its own expansion. Earlier this year, Clearstead announced its acquisition of Waveland Family Office in the Chicago area, which added roughly $420 million in AUM.

Clearstead, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Cleveland, has grown both organically and through strategic mergers, backed by private equity firm Flexpoint Ford since 2022.