New Mexico PERA Has a New CIO

Michael Shackelford

Michael Shackelford has been named CIO of the $17 billion Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico. He replaces Deputy CIO Kristin Varela, who has been interim CIO since Dominic Garcia left in May 2021.

Shackelford has nearly three decades of investment management experience, and was most recently director of investments for the North Dakota State Department of Trust Lands, where he managed the state’s $7 billion sovereign wealth fund.

“Michael will be the perfect fit for PERA,” Greg Trujillo, PERA’s executive director said in a statement. “Michael’s extensive investment background and portfolio management skills will help PERA strengthen its Trust Fund, develop strategic alliances and expand our portfolio risk management skills.”

Prior to joining the North Dakota State Department of Trust Lands, Shackelford was managing director at Questus Trading for more than five years, according to his LinkedIn profile, and before that was managing partner and CIO at IKM Capital Management for over six years. He was also a director at Credit Suisse and a senior portfolio manager at Invesco and Aegon, as well as a bond trader. He started his career as a mortgage trader at First Union.

Shackelford earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin, and received a master’s degree in economics from California State University.

“I am greatly looking forward to joining the high caliber team at PERA to help further their important mission,” Shackelford said.

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Tags: Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico, New Mexico PERA, chief investment officer, CIO, Michael Shackelford, Kristin Varela, Greg Trujillo