ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Securian Financial today promoted John Heshelman to vice president and chief investment officer (CIO).
Heshelman reports to Suzette Huovinen, Securian Financial’s senior vice president for Institutional Retirement Solutions and the president of Securian Asset Management, the company’s asset management subsidiary.
As CIO, Heshelman is responsible for setting the overall investment strategy and policies for portfolios managed by Securian Asset Management. His primary focus is on Securian Financial’s general account—which holds the company’s assets and is used to pay policyholder claims and benefits—and separate accounts holding the invested assets of policyholders’ variable life insurance and annuity contracts.
Heshelman also provides investment market and portfolio insights to Securian Financial leaders, including the company’s board of directors.
“John Heshelman’s talent, depth of portfolio management experience and familiarity with our company, our customers and our investments has earned him this promotion,” said Huovinen. “I am excited to be working with him to support the investment needs of Securian Financial and our customers.”
Heshelman joined Securian Financial in 2021 as the head of private credit, a role in which he’s successfully grown and managed a multibillion-dollar portfolio for Securian’s general account and third-party clients.
He previously worked as a senior portfolio manager for the State of Wisconsin Investment Board and spent 15 years with asset management company PPM America in a variety of positions, including senior managing director of private placements.
Heshelman earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in accountancy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
