2022
Top Pension Chief Investment Officers

U.S. public pension systems operate in an ever-changing investment environment and have long implemented strategies to position their portfolios to perform better. There have been efforts to address talent retention over the years, yet public pensions have some of the most high-caliber investors that are focused on serving and securing the financial future of public employees. This list features industry thought-leaders that oversee investment teams, expertly navigate the markets and are instilled with the compassion to serve the beneficiaries of U.S. public pension systems. Presenting Trusted Insight’s 2022 Top Pension Chief Investment Officers:
Prabhu Palani is the chief investment officer of the City of San Jose's Retirement System. Prabhu and his team manage the assets of the Police & Fire Department Retirement Plan as well as the Federated City Employees Retirement System. Prior to joining the public sector, Prabhu had a successful career on the buy-side as an investment strategist and portfolio manager with over 20 years of investment management experience with global leaders including Barclays Global Investors, Franklin Templeton Investments, and Mellon Capital. He has been a trusted partner in managing clients’ assets for several leading public and corporate pension plans, endowments, and foundations. Prabhu holds graduate degrees from Stanford University and the University of Delaware and has both the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Accountant designations.
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Jase Auby is chief investment officer for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, where he has oversight over one of the largest investment funds ($193 billion) in the world. Prior to his current role as CIO, he was Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Co-Chairman of the Management Committee, and head of the Risk Group responsible for managing and budgeting the risk of the overall investment Fund. He oversaw the development and management of innovative investment strategies including risk parity, low volatility equity, reinsurance and currency management. Auby holds a B.S. in electrical and computer systems engineering from Harvard College and he is a CFA charter holder.
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Jonathan Grabel is the chief investment officer for the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA). Mr. Grabel manages a $70 billion defined benefit pension fund on behalf of LACERA's 185,000 active and retired members. He also oversees the investments for the LACERA-administered $2 billion healthcare benefits program. Prior to LACERA, Mr. Grabel was the CIO for New Mexico PERA, where he oversaw the investments for the agency’s $15 billion defined benefit fund and the associated PERA SmartSave deferred compensation plan. Previously, he was a general partner at a private equity firm focused on growth-stage investments in technology, networking industries, and digital communications. Earlier in his career, Mr. Grabel was an investment banker. Mr. Grabel received his BS in economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is a CPA (inactive).
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Bob Jacksha has been the chief investment officer for the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board (ERB) since 2007. In this role, he supervises an investment team of 16 individuals who are responsible for the management of ERB’s $15 billion investment portfolio. Prior to this role, he served as deputy state investment officer with the New Mexico State Investment Council and has had various positions in the investment field with other organizations over the past 35 years. Bob holds both the CFA and CAIA charters, an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN and a B.S. degree from Bemidji State University.
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Johara Farhadieh serves as the executive director and chief investment officer of the Illinois State Board of Investment (ISBI), managing a $23.2 billion defined benefit plan and a $4.9 billion defined contribution plan on behalf of more than 168,000 beneficiaries. In her leadership position, Mrs. Farhadieh oversees all investment operations, executes ISBI’s investment policies, and assists Trustees in the strategic direction of ISBI. In addition, Mrs. Farhadieh leads the continued effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within ISBI. Most recently she was named the 2022 Distinguished Woman Investment Professional of the Year by Women Investment Professionals, and was named a 2022 Notable Executive of Color in Finance by Crain’s Chicago Business.
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Fernando Vinzons is the chief investment officer of the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund (CTPF), where he oversees the operations of CTPF’s $13.1 billion investment portfolio. Vinzons previously served as director of investments for the Cook County Pension Fund. Vinzons has over 18 years of investment and financial market expertise, with four years as director of investments and 10 years as a senior member of the Cook County investment team. Vinzons received a BA in economics from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, with a focus on analytical finance and accounting.
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Thomas Lee is the executive director and chief investment officer at the New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS), one of the largest and public pension funds in the country. Prior to that, he was executive director at Maryland State Retirement and Pension System until 2006. Lee holds an MBA from George Washington University, a master’s degree in political science from Temple University and a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology from Dickinson College.
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Jon Braeutigam is the chief investment officer for the State of Michigan Retirement Systems. He has served the organization since 2008 and has significant years of investment experience with the Bureau of Investments. Braeutigam holds a master’s and bachelor's degree in finance from Michigan State University.
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Ronald Schmitz is the chief investment officer at Virginia Retirement System, where he oversees over $100 billion of assets under management. Prior to this, he was the chief investment officer at Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund and Illinois State Board of Investment. Schmitz began his career with Kraft Foods Inc., before gaining pension management experience at Sears, Roebuck & Co. He has also served as the director of investments for Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association. Schmitz has a bachelor's degree in finance from Western Illinois University and an MBA from Northwestern University.
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Craig Husting
Chief Investment Officer
Public School and Education Employee Retirement Systems of Missouri
Craig Husting is the chief investment officer for the Public School and Education Employee Retirement Systems of Missouri. As CIO, he directs the management of the Systems’ $53 billion investment portfolio. Specifically, Mr. Husting has been responsible for strategically diversifying the asset allocation for the Systems including the development of real estate, private equity, private credit and hedge fund portfolios. He joined the Retirement Systems as CIO in January 1999. Prior to that, Mr. Husting was the Director of Investments and Deposit Programs for the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office where he managed all aspects of the State’s $3.5 billion investment portfolio. Mr. Husting has also worked in county government as the Deputy Treasurer for the Johnson County, KS government. Mr. Husting began his career in finance in 1989 with Ernst and Young’s national cash management consulting practice. Mr. Husting earned an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. degree from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
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Angela Miller-May is the chief investment officer of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Previously, she was the chief investment officer of the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund (CTPF). She had been with CTPF since 2010 and started out as an investment analyst. She has been with IMRF since August 2021. Prior to that, she was a senior business analyst at Fiserv Remittance and Check Solutions/Northern Trust. Miller-May holds an MBA in accounting and management from Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University.
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Edwin Denson is the executive director and chief investment officer of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. Edwin joined SWIB in 2018 as managing director, asset and risk allocation. He was appointed executive director/chief investment officer in April 2021. Before joining SWIB, Edwin was managing director, strategic tilting, at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). Prior to joining CPPIB in 2013, Edwin spent 13 years in asset allocation, currency, and risk management as a portfolio manager at William Blair & Company, managing member at Singer Partners LLC, and managing director and head of asset allocation at UBS Global Asset Management. dwin holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Cornell University and a PhD in economics from Northwestern University.
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Sam Masoudi is the chief investment officer at the Wyoming Retirement System, where he manages $10 billion in pension assets for all non-federal public employees in Wyoming. He also oversees the $1 billion defined contribution fund and is an advisory committee member of the $25 billion State of Wyoming Treasury investment fund. Previously, he was a managing director at Tulane University, where he sourced and monitored marketable and non-marketable alternative investment managers. Prior to that, he was a portfolio manager and founder of Silver Peak Capital Management, LLC. Masoudi holds a B.S. in finance and investments from Babson College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designations.
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Farouki Majeed is the chief investment officer at the Ohio School Employees Retirement System, where he has served since 2012. Previously, he was a senior investment officer at CalPERS for 5 years. Prior to that, he was the CIO of Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefit Fund and the deputy director of investmets at Ohio PERS. Majeed holds an MBA in finance and international business from Rutgers University.
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Michael Viteri is the chief investment officer of the Arizona State Retirement System, where he oversees an investment portfolio of approximately $50 billion and a staff of ten. Prior to joining the ASRS, he served as senior investment officer for the Oregon State Treasury, which manages investment portfolios for various Oregon state agencies with a then combined market value of $124 billion, including the $89 billion Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund. His new position at the ASRS is somewhat of a homecoming, as he served as a portfolio manager and trader at the ASRS from 2000 until 2008 when he joined the Oregon State Treasury. Viteri holds bachelor's degrees in anthropology and Spanish from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, AZ., where he also served as adjunct faculty teaching courses on finance. He also sits on multiple boards, committees and panels.
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Andrew Palmer is the chief investment officer of the Maryland State Retirement & Pension System, where he oversees $51 billion of assets under management. Previously, he served as the deputy CIO of the Tennessee Office of the Treasurer. His career in the private sector started in 1985 at ASB Capital Management, where he progressed from credit analyst to director of fixed income. Palmer holds a M.A. and B.A. in economics from the University of Maryland College Park.
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Scott Davis is the chief investment officer at the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS). He is responsible for the management of the $41 billion investment program, including maintaining a successful investment culture, recommending and implementing the asset allocation for the defined benefit and defined contribution plans, and regularly reporting to the board on investment matters. Scott joined INPRS in 2010 and has held various roles, including director of public equity and deputy CIO, before being named the CIO in 2016. Scott was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal’s “2017 Forty Under 40” in recognition of his accomplishments at work and in the community. In 2018 and 2019, he was named to the Chief Investment Officer’s Power 100 list which recognizes innovation and influence, collaboration, and talent development. He has also been nominated by his peers four times as a finalist for Chief Investment Officer’s Industry Innovation Award. Prior to joining INPRS, Scott worked at the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) as the director of debt management where he managed the State of Indiana’s debt portfolio, including the financing of Lucas Oil Stadium. He received a B.S. with honors from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, with majors in finance and accounting. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder. Scott currently sits on the board and investment committee for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Foundation.
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Amy McGarrity has been Colorado PERA’s deputy chief investment officer since May 2013. Prior to her current title she joined Colorado PERA in January 2010 as a senior investment officer. Previously, she was CIO of the Denver Public Schools Retirement System (DPSRS) and joined PERA in 2010 when the systems merged. McGarrity has also served organizations such as Buck Consultants, Mercer Investment Consulting, and Caxton. She holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from University of Wyoming and an MBA from Rider University.
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Kirk Stebbins is the chief investment officer of Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System, a pension with $16.9 billion in assets under management. Previously, he served as CIO at the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System. He has over 25 years of experience working with institutional investments in various capacities. Stebbins holds an M.S. in finance from Texas A&M University and a B.S. from Louisiana Tech University. He also holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
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Paul Greff is the chief investment officer at Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), where he had served for over 10 years. Prior to his CIO role, he was the head of global bonds at OPERS. Prior to that, he was a senior managing director at State Street Global Advisors for nearly 12 years. Paul holds an MBA in economics from the University of Detroit and a B.A. in political science Kalamazoo College.
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