Wellington, Clearstead tap wirehouse alums to bolster wealth leadership

Wellington, Clearstead tap wirehouse alums to bolster wealth leadership
From left: Christina Kopec Rooney, head of US wealth at Wellington Management and Albert Leshinsky, senior managing director of advisor recruiting at Clearstead Advisors.
The two wealth giants welcome former leaders from Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan as they look to drive their respective growth strategies forward.
MAR 31, 2025

Two wealth management firms have added senior leadership talent with deep wirehouse experience, signaling a continued push to grow their presence and capabilities in the advisor-focused channel.

Wellington Management has appointed Christina Kopec Rooney as head of US wealth, a newly created position based in New York. She joins from Goldman Sachs Asset Management, where she most recently served as managing director and head of commercial and digital strategy for global third party wealth.

In a statement published Monday, the firm said Rooney will lead Wellington’s US wealth strategy, collaborating with its leadership to expand distribution and product development across multiple channels. Her mandate includes supporting client engagement and advancing growth efforts across mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and alternative investment vehicles.

The firm currently manages and subadvises more than $600 billion in US wealth assets. Globally, Wellington advises over 2,500 clients across 60 countries and manages more than $1.2 trillion as of December 31.

Rooney spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs in a range of leadership roles, including head of digital retail product management and global head of liquidity solutions product. Earlier in her career, she held fixed income and equity product management roles at Fidelity Investments.

Separately, Clearstead Advisors has brought on Albert Leshinsky as senior managing director of advisor recruiting. Based in Cleveland, Clearstead advises more than $47 billion in assets for both private clients and institutions.

Leshinsky joins from JPMorgan Chase, where he was vice president and head of advisor recruiting for the JPMorgan Advisors business. His background includes experience at First Republic Private Wealth Management as deputy head of wealth manager recruiting, and earlier leadership roles at UBS Wealth Management.

In his new role, Leshinsky is tasked with overseeing all aspects of advisor recruitment, including initial outreach and the onboarding process. He will work closely with Clearstead’s leadership team to support expansion efforts and advisor transitions.

Founded in 1989, Clearstead integrates tax planning, family office services, and trust administration with investment management for high-net-worth clients, while also advising more than 250 institutions, including endowments, retirement plans, and healthcare organizations.

The firm announced two major changes to its leadership in quick succession late last year. On the heels of hiring Envestnet alum Jean Heath as its senior managing director of advisor solutions national sales, it revealed in December that Bradley Knapp would become its next president and CEO effective January 1, succeeding David Fulton Jr., who has served as CEO since 2014.

Latest News

SEC charges barred ex-Merrill broker behind Bain Capital investment fraud
SEC charges barred ex-Merrill broker behind Bain Capital investment fraud

The Texas-based former advisor reportedly bilked clients out of millions of dollars, keeping them in the dark with doctored statements and a fake email domain.

Trump's tax bill passes senate in hard-fought victory for Republicans
Trump's tax bill passes senate in hard-fought victory for Republicans

The $3.3 trillion tax and spending cut package narrowly got through the upper house, with JD Vance casting the deciding vote to overrule three GOP holdouts.

Advisor moves: LPL adds ex-Osaic advisor in Fresno, RBC plants a new stake in Nashville
Advisor moves: LPL adds ex-Osaic advisor in Fresno, RBC plants a new stake in Nashville

Meanwhile, a Minnesota-based advisor from Edward Jones has found a new home within Osaic.

RIA news: Focus expands down under, Mercer welcomes women-led RIA
RIA news: Focus expands down under, Mercer welcomes women-led RIA

Meanwhile, Carson Group extends its acquisition strategy with a Maryland-based advisory practice.

'Independence Series': Staff up before taking off
'Independence Series': Staff up before taking off

Financial advisor Craig Robson shares the lessons he learned after leaving Merrill Lynch to set up his own practice in the fourth installment of InvestmentNews' new 'Independence Stories' series.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.