RIA moves: SlateStone Wealth, Fifth Third announce C-suite hires

SlateStone Wealth and Fifth Third Wealth Advisors, the national RIA arm of Fifth Third Bank, have announced new additions to their C-suite, while New York-based Douglass Winthrop has strengthened its own leadership with a senior managing director hired from Northern Trust.

SlateStone Wealth brings on chief equity strategist

SlateStone Wealth, a boutique advisory firm headquartered in Jupiter, Florida, has appointed Erin Gibbs as chief equity strategist.

With more than 25 years of experience in quantitative equity research and portfolio management, Gibbs will lead the development of the firm’s quantitative equity platform. Her first priority is the design and rollout of a new small- and mid-cap strategy, aiming to enhance portfolio precision and risk management for clients.

Gibbs will work closely with chief investment officer Daniel Payne to integrate quantitative and fundamental approaches across the firm’s strategies. She also joins SlateStone’s investment policy committee and will collaborate with advisory and business development teams to align investment solutions with client goals.

Before joining SlateStone, Gibbs served as chief investment officer at Main Street Asset Management and previously held senior roles at S&P Investment Advisory Services, where she advised over $15 billion in quantitative equity assets, Liberty Ridge Capital, Citigroup, and Sanford Bernstein.

In a statement, Sherri Daniels, founder and co-CEO at SlateStone Wealth, commended Gibbs’s “depth of experience and rigorous, research-driven approach strengthen our commitment to building well-structured strategies that reflect the diverse needs of our clients.”

Slatestone Wealth oversaw more than $1.5 billion in regulatory AUM as of June 24, according to its most recent Form ADV filed with the SEC.

Fifth Third Wealth Advisors names new chief investment officer

Fifth Third Wealth Advisors, the multi-custodial RIA subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank established in 2021, has appointed Chris Osmond as chief investment officer.

Osmond brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, having most recently served as partner, CIO and chief compliance officer at Centura Wealth Advisory. His previous roles include CIO at Prime Capital Financial and positions at BMO Harris Private Banking.

Eric Housman, president of FTWA, said Osmond’s “client-first mindset makes him a tremendous asset to our team.” He added that the firm is confident Osmond will “help us deliver personalized solutions and continue to accelerate the growth of Fifth Third Wealth Advisors.”

FTWA, which manages more than $6 billion in discretionary assets, serves clients nationwide with offices in several major markets across Georgia, Florida, Illiniois, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

The firm reportedly surpassed $3 billion in net new assets under management as of June 30, a record the firm said underscored its momentum and growing demand for its services.

Douglass Winthrop Advisors adds senior managing director

Douglass Winthrop Advisors announced a senior hire, bringing on Keith Ardizzone as senior managing director for its wealth management team in New York.

Ardizzone joins after 17 years at Northern Trust, where he led a team focused on holistic wealth management for individuals and families, including financial planning, wealth transfer, and family governance. His background also includes 18 years at US Trust and early-career experience at PwC.

Lea Paine Highet, managing partner at Douglass Winthrop, said Ardizzone’s experience “working with multi-generational families and trusts aligns perfectly with our strategic focus.” 

Douglass Winthrop, which manages $6.3 billion in assets, has offices in New York, Washington, DC, and West Palm Beach. The firm is majority owned by its principals and serves individuals, families, trusts, endowments, and institutions.