Three wealth-management firms disclosed senior appointments this week, adding executives with extensive backgrounds in mergers and acquisitions, operations, and private-client advisory. The moves reflect a broader industry push to bolster leadership as firms compete for scale and service excellence.
Captrust brings on NorthRock alum to lead M&A efforts
Captrust has named Emily Vennerstrom as senior director of mergers and acquisitions. Based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, she will oversee the identification of acquisition targets, cultivate relationships with referral sources, and manage deals from initial contact through closing. Her role also includes promoting Captrust's culture and value proposition to prospective sellers.
Vennerstrom joins from NorthRock Partners, where she served as chief operating officer and, earlier, chief impact officer. In the latter role, she developed the firm's philanthropic-advice practice and launched Foundation X, a standalone advisory business serving wealthy families, corporations, and nonprofits through donor-advised funds and private foundations. Before entering wealth management, she held leadership positions at UnitedHealth Group and Medtronic, focusing on health systems and community development.
Mike Wunderli, Captrust's head of M&A, emphasized the importance of cultural fit in the hire. "Emily's experience, leadership, and partnership mentality will be invaluable as we continue to grow and help exceptional firms find a long-term home at Captrust," he said.
Kestra Financial adds two operations leaders
Austin-based Kestra Financial has appointed Kristan Garner as head of client service and John Milligan as head of operations, both reporting to Client Experience Officer Angela Xavier. Garner will oversee advisor service, technology, and account services, bringing more than 15 years of financial-services operations experience, including nearly a decade at USAA and a stint at Fidelity National Information Services.
Milligan, a former U.S. Navy officer and CFP professional, will manage trading, cashiering, producer compensation, and fee billing. He has over 20 years in brokerage and capital-markets operations, most recently as executive vice president and head of capital markets operations at Truist Bank, where he helped integrate SunTrust and BB&T brokerage operations into Truist Investment Services. Earlier, he held roles at Ameriprise Financial.
Xavier said the hires align with the firm's commitment to advisor and client experience. "Kristan and John bring deep expertise in client service and operations, and their leadership will help us continue raising the bar for efficiency and operational excellence," she said.
Fiduciary Trust International strengthens New York relationship team
Fiduciary Trust International, a Franklin Templeton subsidiary with more than $119 billion in assets under management and administration as of June 30, has added Suhaib Bingaradi as a relationship manager in its New York office. He will report to interim regional managing director and chief operating officer Craig Richards.
Bingaradi spent 14 years at Bank of America Private Bank, most recently as senior vice president and private client manager, where he specialized in multigenerational wealth transfer, estate planning, philanthropy, and cash-flow structuring. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses, is fluent in English and Arabic, and studied sociology at the University of Florida.
Richards highlighted Bingaradi's client-first approach. "Suhaib has more than 15 years of experience focused on client-first service across investment management, credit, trusts and estates, philanthropy, and banking," he said. "We look forward to working with him to improve long-term outcomes across generations for our clients in the Greater New York region."
Bingaradi expressed confidence in the firm's stability, noting its 95-year reputation in wealth management. "Now more than ever, clients want stability and confidence, and this is what Fiduciary Trust International is structured to deliver," he said.
These appointments come as firms across the industry continue to invest in leadership to navigate a competitive landscape. For more on recent moves, see Perigon Wealth's expanded CIO role and Kestra's Western U.S. growth hires.
