Eric Stevenson to Retire as Leader of Nationwide Retirement Solutions; Kevin Jestice Tagged as Successor

Eric Stevenson to Retire as Leader of Nationwide Retirement Solutions; Kevin Jestice Tagged as Successor

Today, Craig Hawley, president of Nationwide Financial, shared that after a 20-year career at Nationwide, Eric Stevenson, president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions, has announced his plans to retire next year. Hawley also announced that Kevin Jestice, president of the Nationwide Investment Management Group will become leader of Nationwide Retirement Solutions, effective Oct. 1.

Eric Stevenson's career of distinction at Nationwide

Since joining Nationwide in 2006, Stevenson has made a lasting impact-beginning in life insurance marketing and rising through leadership roles in retirement plans marketing and distribution. As Senior Vice President of Retirement Plans Distribution, he led a national team supporting more than 2.5 million participants in preparing for and living in retirement. In 2019, Eric became President of Retirement Solutions, guiding the organization to over $200 billion in assets under management. Under his leadership, Nationwide Financial evolved beyond a retirement solutions recordkeeper, becoming a trusted partner in retirement readiness. His influence extended beyond the walls of Nationwide-testifying before Congress in support of the SECURE Act and other key legislation aimed at improving retirement outcomes for millions of Americans. As a result, Nationwide was an industry leader in launching a suite of in-plan protected retirement solutions and has since emerged as a leading force in that category.

"Eric's legacy is one of advocacy, innovation and a commitment to helping people achieve financial security in retirement," Hawley said. "We wish him the best in his retirement."

Kevin Jestice well positioned to lead Nationwide Retirement Plans into the future

Since 2023, Kevin Jestice has served as President of Nationwide's Investment Management Group (IMG), leading a $77+ billion investment advisor with products distributed through financial intermediaries, retirement products, and variable annuity and life solutions. Under his leadership, IMG has elevated its partnerships with leading investment firms, delivered superior investment products at competitive prices, and accelerated profitable growth across Nationwide Financial's businesses.

"Kevin Jestice's proven leadership-combined with his extensive investment and asset management, retirement plans operations, sales and service expertise-make him the right person to lead Nationwide Retirement Solutions into the future," Hawley said. "He brings a combination of strategic vision, operational excellence and deep industry expertise to this role. He is known for his empowering leadership style, ability to drive results, and passion for improving outcomes for investors."

Prior to this role, Jestice served as Vice President of Internal Sales and Service (ISS) at Nationwide, where he led the organization responsible for providing service to millions of members, financial professionals and firm partners. Before joining Nationwide, he spent more than 13 years at Vanguard in roles of increasing responsibility, including Principal, Head of Enterprise Advice, where he built a new sub-division focused on improving outcomes for individual investors through advice and education. He also served as Principal, Head of Institutional Investor Services, where he led a team of more than 250 investment professionals, relationship managers and operations professionals to serve Vanguard's institutional asset management clients, primarily retirement focused.

Jestice earned bachelor's degrees in finance and management from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds multiple industry credentials, including FINRA Series 6, 26 and 63 licenses; Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA); Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM); and an Executive Certificate in Technology, Operations and Value Chain Management from MIT Sloan. He is also a member of the CFA Institute, the CIPM Association and the CFA Society of Columbus. He serves as a member of the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army in Central Ohio.

"Kevin will work with Eric over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition leading up to Eric's retirement," Hawley said.

Nationwide will conduct a search for Jestice's replacement as leader of IMG starting immediately.

Nationwide Retirement Solutions administers nearly 32,000 retirement plans, helping protect more than $200 billion in participant assets, and helping secure financial futures for over 2.7 million participants. Nationwide services the highest volume of Governmental 457 plans and demonstrated significant growth in corporate 401(k) and not-for-profit 403(b) markets.¹ Nationwide is committed to serving the retirement industry by doing the right thing at the right time through better participant experiences, administrative simplicity and values that translate to service.

¹ Plan Sponsor 2024 Recordkeeping Survey

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