The employee benefits and retirement industry continues to evolve and innovate but doesn't veer from its purpose: to help employers, advisors, brokers, and other benefits professionals assist employees in making the most of their benefits. Here's news about partnerships, M&As, hiring and promotion, award winners, and more.

Collective Health announced a new C-level hire, Haleigh Tebben, who will oversee partnerships across Collective Health's business. As Chief Business Development Officer, she will be responsible for the company's key consultant relationships and the overall development of corporate health programs for Collective Health's clients. Marianne Holt is also joining Collective Health as the new Director of Benefits. She's Collective Health's first hire who was once a client. Previously, Marianne was the Director of Benefits at Lululemon and Uber.

Maestro Health announced its Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of Founder Rob Butler from the position of Chief Executive Officer and has appointed Craig Maloney as its next CEO, effective Oct. 7, 2019. Craig Maloney most recently served as president of Aon Voluntary Benefits and Enrollments Solutions Division, where he spent 20 years of his career.

Transamerica announced that Jason Bouldin joined the company as Regional Vice President for its large-market retirement plan sales team. Based in Atlanta, he will focus on sales efforts in Florida and Georgia and reports to Robert Goldman, National Sales Director, Large-Market Retirement Plans. With more than two decades of retirement plan experience, he work with financial advisors on acquiring retirement plans with $50 million or more in assets.

American Public Life Insurance Company (APL) announced that Jerry Horton has been appointed as APL's new Chief Operating Officer. Horton assumes his new role September 9 and will work alongside CEO Jim Pate until Pates' retirement in 2020. Horton comes to APL with an extensive background in supplemental benefits, most recently, as the Worksite Practice Leader for The Guardian Life Insurance Company.

PayActiv, a financial wellness provider, announced it has become a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). It also introduced Raj Sisodia as the newest addition to its advisory board. The co-founder and co-chairman of Conscious Capitalism, he brings more than 28 years of industry experience. He's currently the F.W. Olin Distinguished Professor of Global Business and Whole Foods Market Research Scholar in Conscious Capitalism at Babson College.

Mercer Advisors, a national Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) with AUM exceeding $16.5 billion, announced a recapitalization whereby Oak Hill Capital will acquire an equity stake in the company from current private equity owners Genstar Capital and Lovell Minnick Partners. Based in Denver, Mercer Advisors has a national footprint with 44 offices and over 370 employees.

Bluecrew, the on-demand staffing platform for flexible W-2 work, announced the appointment of Sam Estes as Vice President of Sales and Tom Knight as Director of Growth. Estes most recently led regional sales for Paycom Software. He will direct Bluecrew's sales team. Knight led driver growth and retention strategy for Lyft. He will lead Bluecrew's worker acquisition strategy.

CopperPoint Insurance Companies, a western-based regional commercial insurance company, announced an agreement to acquire Alaska National Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary Alaska National Insurance Company (ANIC), an Alaska domiciled workers' compensation and commercial insurance carrier. Alaska National is licensed in 26 states. CopperPoint's headquarters will remain in Phoenix, Arizona, while Alaska National will continue operating under its company name and will remain in Anchorage, Alaska. The combined companies will have a locally-focused footprint with 10 offices in Anchorage, Boise, Denver, Irvine, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, Walnut Creek and Westlake Village.

Hub International Limited (Hub) announced across subsequent days that it has acquired the assets of the following:

EPIC Retirement Services Consulting, LLC (EPIC). Located in New York City, New York, EPIC is an independent investment consulting firm specializing in 401(k), 403(b) and pension plans. EPIC has been offering customized retirement plan solutions and services to plan sponsors as well as employee education to plan participants since their inception in 1999. Eva Kalivas, Co-Founder of EPIC, will join Hub Northeast.
StoneStreet Pearl River LLC (StoneStreet). Based in Pearl River, New York, led by Barbara Delaney, StoneStreet is an independent and nationally recognized firm providing retirement plan consulting services to defined benefit, defined contribution and non-qualified plans. Ms. Delaney will join Hub Northeast.
Wash Financial, L.L.C., d/b/a Washington Financial Group (WFG). Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, led by CEO Joe DeNoyior and President Jeff Hamblen, WFG provides employer plan and wealth management services. DeNoyior will join Hub Mid-Atlantic.
Hub announced that it has acquired certain assets of WhartonHill Retirement Services, LLC, Strategic Planning Resources, Inc. and Karen McCloskey (collectively doing business as WhartonHill Advisors). Located in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania, WhartonHill Advisors is an institutional investment consulting and private wealth firm. Its assets under advisement, as of June 30, 2019, are in excess of $3 billion. Principals Andrew DeGroat, John Wenz and Karen McCloskey will join Hub.

Duke University's Center for Advanced Hindsight and Moneymap are embarking on a research initiative to develop evidence-based recommendations for scaling financial coaching to help employees maximize their money and reduce financial stress. They are currently taking applications for a limited number of employers to participate in the research, providing early access to results and free coaching services for up to 1,000 employees for selected employers, worth up to $135,000.

Willis Towers Watson announced the expansion of its benefit financing team in North America with the appointment of Paul McNiff as a director in its Global Services and Solutions consulting business. McNiff will consult with employers in all areas of global benefit financing and, specifically, employee benefit captives. He has been with Willis Towers Watson for over 12 years, most recently having served as a consulting actuary. He will be based in the New York office.

Nova Healthcare Administrators announced James "Jim" Walleshauser has been named as president, effective immediately. Walleshauser has more than 20 years of senior management experience with a proven track record of strategic planning and organizational leadership, most recently as president of Evolve Practice Partners.

The Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) recognized excellence in the field of workplace health and well-being with the presentation of the 2019 HERO Health and Well-Being Awards during the recent HERO Forum in Portland, OR. Award recipients included the following:

Fikry Isaac, MD (Bill Whitmer Leadership Award)
Debra Lerner, MSc, Ph.D. (Mark Dundon Research Award)
Craft O'Neal (Jerry Noyce Executive Health Champion Award)
Philip DiRusso (Heart of HERO Award)
Keara Vance (Healthy HERO Award)

Vantage Leadership Consulting announced David Binkley, the former chief human resources officer for Whirlpool Corp., has joined the firm as a senior advisor in strategic talent management. Binkley leverages more than 30 years of experience within Fortune 150 companies, including the last 15 years as CHRO of Whirlpool. Binkley will also launch Vantage's HR strategy and advisory services in 2020.

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Benefits industry newsmakers: PayActiv, Collective Health, Bluecrew, Maestro Health, HERO

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