Bryan Lewis, Pennsylvania SERS’s CIO, Is Leaving

Deputy CIO James Nolan recommended to serve in interim by investment committee.

Bryan Lewis, chief investment officer of the Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System, will be leaving the $29 billion fund.

Lewis’ last day will be August 2, as he departs for another career opportunity, said the plan. He will still participate its July 30-31 board meeting.

Lewis has been with the fund since 2016.

The Pennsylvania organization’s investment committee recommended Deputy CIO James Nolan serve as interim CIO while it searches for a new head at a special meeting. It is not known if Nolan has accepted, but Penn SERS has high hopes.

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“We are confident that Jim Nolan, along with senior investment staff and other SERS investment professionals, have the knowledge and skills to maintain a steady course until the time a new chief investment officer is appointed,” said Executive Director Terrill Sanchez.

If Nolan accepts, he would begin August 3, the day after Lewis exits.

Nolan joined the retirement system in 2015. Besides asset allocation, risk management, and cost containment, he also oversees the investment structure of the deferred compensation plan, a voluntary supplemental investment plan for plan members.

He also led the implementation of the investment structure of the fund’s defined contribution that launched at the beginning of the year.

Lewis’ new position was not disclosed. He was unable to be reached for comment.

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BofAML’s Cross Asset Head Joins the Church Commissioners for England

James Barty will become the organization’s first director of investment strategy, created to navigate upcoming changes.

James Barty



James Barty will join the Church Commissioners for England as its director of investment strategy.

Barty comes from Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML), where he was its global head of cross asset strategy since 2015. His role with the Church Commissioners is new, as the $10 billion organization sees a different investment landscape ahead and wishes to adapt.

Tom Joy, the organization’s chief investment officer, praised Barty for his track record in multi-asset investing at a “critically important time” for investors. “We expect the next decade for markets across all asset classes to be very different to one we have just experienced and managing overall portfolio risk, more dynamically, will become increasingly important,” he said.

Barty, who created BofAML’s cross-asset strategy product for multi-asset investors, according to his LinkedIn profile, said he is “greatly impressed” by the fund’s approach and outlook.

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He also admires the organization’s investment philosophy which, he said, “in addition to delivering great financial results has a clear focus on being at the forefront, globally, of responsible investment.

Barty will start his new job on July 24.

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