Former Invesco, Merrill veteran joins $17B RIA to lead marketing

Former Invesco, Merrill veteran joins $17B RIA to lead marketing
Joanna Irwin, chief marketing officer at Homrich Berg.
New CMO plans to drive growth at Atlanta based firm.
SEP 10, 2024

An Atlanta based RIA had hired an industry veteran to head up its marketing efforts to drive growth.

The $17 billion AUM Homrich Berg’s new chief marketing officer is a former Merrill Lynch digital marketing strategist Joanna Irwin, who also spent a decade at Invesco as CMO for North America and has most recently been global CMO for talent firm Randstad.

“I’m energized to be at a people- and client-first company. HB has done an excellent job building a strong reputation and growing organically, and it’s in a prime position for continued growth,” said Irwin. “We have a great opportunity to leverage increased digital marketing and broader brand-building efforts as the fuel to take HB to the next level.”

She frees up principal Bill Bolen, CFP, CFA, to focus on client service as a wealth advisor in the HB Family Office division having been in the CMO role alongside his advisor duties.

“We appreciate the strong industry-leading organic growth strategy that Bill has helped build at HB over the past decade and are pleased to see him now be able to focus full-time on serving our family office clients,” said Thomas Carroll, CEO of Homrich Berg. “We are excited to now add Joanna to our leadership team as a talented veteran marketing executive with the right mix of traditional and digital marketing experience to lead us into the next 35 years of our firm growth story.”

HB has seen industry-leading organic and acquisitive growth in recent years, and with Irwin driving marketing initiatives the firm expects to expand its brand awareness efforts in multiple markets.

The firm has seen several senior leadership appointments in the past year including Carroll’s appointment as chief executive officer in September 2023 after four years with the firm and succeeding founder Andy Berg who remains as chair.  

In April 2024, Michael A. Woocher was appointed as principal and chief advisory officer, joining from Bernstein Private Wealth Management, where he led the Atlanta office as managing director and wealth advisor.

Latest News

Ex-broker in Florida gets more than six years for stealing $2 million from senior
Ex-broker in Florida gets more than six years for stealing $2 million from senior

Eric J. Stone was fired by Fidelity in 2021 after facing claims he took loans from clients.

Vistria takes majority stake in Curi Capital in fresh RIA deal
Vistria takes majority stake in Curi Capital in fresh RIA deal

Chicago-based Curi Capital gets new majority owner as $14 billion RIA eyes acquisitions and expanded family office services

WealthReach, VastAdvisor tie-up takes aim at advisors' cold outreach problem
WealthReach, VastAdvisor tie-up takes aim at advisors' cold outreach problem

Partnership pairs organic lead detection with paid ad targeting to help end "spray-and-pray" marketing for growth-seeking advisory firms.

LPL taps Wells Fargo vet as new chief technology and information officer
LPL taps Wells Fargo vet as new chief technology and information officer

Jonathan Lewis joins the wealth management giant as it proceeds with a $2 billion AI and technology push for advisors.

Buffer ETFs can turn volatility into a better client conversation
Buffer ETFs can turn volatility into a better client conversation

Once focused on retirees, pre-retirees and risk-conscious investors, the category has widened into a wider toolkit to help reassure clients in choppy markets.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income