Benefits industry newsmakers: Creative Planning, LumApps, MetLife, Nationwide

Here’s recent news of promotions, hires, acquisitions and mergers.

Seyfarth has added lawyer Jamie R. Rich to its San Francisco office as a partner. Ms. Rich joins the firm’s Labor & Employment department and Labor Management Relations practice group. At Greenberg Traurig, her previous firm, she served as national co-chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment practice’s Labor-Management Relations group. 

Pearson, a digital media learning company, announced it has acquired Credly, a digital workforce credentialing provider. The acquisition of Credly, in which Pearson has a nearly 20% stake, aims to expand the company’s presence in the workforce skills sector.

Oak Hill Advisors, L.P., an alternative investment firm, has hired Jeffrey Cohen as its first head of ESG and Sustainability. Cohen will join the firm’s ESG Committee and work closely with the firm’s investment team and portfolio companies. Previously, Cohen was director of capital markets integration and head of private investments initiatives at the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Foundation (SASB).

Nox Health, a provider of sleep health solutions, has welcomed the following three strategic leaders to support new client initiatives:

• Victoria (Vic) Noble as Chief Marketing Officer. Noble has established brand marketing and growth strategies for numerous healthcare companies including AstraZeneca, Shire and Idorsia. She was most recently Head of Customer Experience at Idorsia.
• Maureen Connolly as Senior Vice President of Content. Connolly is an award-winning journalist who comes with a wealth of knowledge focused on digital health and content strategy. She most recently served as Editor in Chief of Everyday Health.
• Larisa Thomas as Vice President of Security. Thomas built an Information Security and Compliance department at a health and wellness company, achieving PCI compliance in record time.She most recently served as Chief Information Security Officer for a local government organization in Colorado.

Nationwide announced the selection of Rona Guymon to lead annuity distribution. Guymon’s previous role was leader of Nationwide’s brokerage annuity distribution, and her promotion takes over for Craig Hawley, who switched roles to lead Nationwide’s retirement solutions distribution team..

MetLife Investment Management announced it has hired Jeff Passmore to a newly created role of Lead Liability Driven Investing (LDI) Strategist in the firm’s Public Fixed Income department. Passmore joins from Barrow Hanley Global Investors, where he held a similar role. His background includes experience as a pension and investment actuary.

LumApps, an employee experience platform, announced it will acquire HeyAxel, a no-code HR automation and employee onboarding solution. The integration of the two products and teams aims to accelerate LumApps’ employee journeys roadmap.

Creative Planning Inc., an RIA, has recently acquired firms including the following:

• Paradigm Financial Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary RIA. 
• The Doman Group, a wealth management firm specializing in the sports and entertainment industry.
• JBJ Invest, an investment advisory firm, specializing in the health care industry.