People

D.L. Blain & Co. LLC has hired John Gjertsen, 35, as a financial adviser.

D.L. Blain & Co. LLC has hired John Gjertsen, 35, as a financial adviser.

He will provide investment management and wealth planning services.

Previously, Mr. Gjertsen was a financial adviser at Steadfast Financial Services.

Yanni Partners, a division of GBS Investment Consulting LLC, has hired Joseph P. Karpinski, 61, as a senior director of business development and senior consultant.

He will lead the firm’s business development and strategic-planning efforts on a national level and will provide institutional-investment-consulting services to the firm’s clients.

Previously, Mr. Karpinski was a national director for Wells Capital Management, where he oversaw Taft-Hartley sales.

Curian Capital LLC has hired Peter Eisenrich, 39, as a vice president and senior market strategist for the firm’s Asset Management Group.

Mr. Eisenrich will develop and write views on domestic and foreign market trends for publications in Curian’s AMG publications, including the Capital Market Briefing and Quarterly Attribution Report.

Previously, he served as vice president of strategic equity investments at Wells Fargo & Co., where he helped develop and write about views of domestic and global investment themes.

NewOak Capital has hired Chad J. Burhance, 42, as managing director and head of NewOak Solutions, a premier provider of portfolio risk analysis, and credit and advisory services, to institutional investors.

He will lead the expansion of NewOak Solutions beyond complex structured securities to comprehensive quantification of the risk and return characteristics, and the sensitivities and stress testing of portfolios, utilizing a variety of asset classes and currencies.

Mr. Burhance was formerly managing director of Global Risk Services at State Street Investment Analytics, overseeing risk and analytical services.

VSR Financial Services has promoted Steve Roberts, 56, to interim chief compliance officer.

He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the compliance department.

Previously, Mr. Roberts was senior compliance principal, responsible for coordinating and conducting office exams, supervising outside business activities and assisting with implementing policies and procedures. He also reviewed advertising and sales literature.

Evercore Wealth Management has hired Wendy Barasch, 52, as a partner and head of business development.

She is responsible for developing a marketing and business development process at the firm, helping to pursue new business opportunities and recruiting talent.

Previously, Ms. Barasch worked at AllianceBernstein LP as a managing director in the private-client business, where she was responsible for hiring and developing teams of financial advisers.

Strategic Fixed Income LLC has hired Diane Gibb, 50, as director and senior portfolio manager in its London office.

She returns to Strategic after 14 years; she was a part of the team in the company’s early years, 1991-’96. In Ms. Gibb’s new position, she will be actively involved in all long-only and hedge fund strategies.

Previously, she was a proprietary trader at National Australia Bank, where she was responsible for trading, budgets, targets and reporting functions.

John Hancock Life Insurance Co. has hired Michael G. Johnson, 34, as regional vice president of John Hancock Retirement Plan Services.

He is responsible for the company’s sales and sales support in the greater Atlanta region.

Previously, Mr. Johnson was a senior retirement sales representative for Principal Financial Group, where he was responsible for wholesale functions to advisers and intermediaries in Georgia.

Separately, John Hancock Retirement Plan Services has promoted Cheney L. Hunt III, 47, to regional sales manager.

He is responsible for sales and sales management of the Midwest region.

Previously, Mr. Hunt was the company’s regional vice president in San Diego and was responsible for John Hancock’s 401(k) sales efforts in San Diego and Hawaii.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association has hired Richard Dorfman, 64, as managing director and head of the SIFMA Securitization Group.

He is responsible for working with members on essential initiatives related to regulatory reform, the future of government- sponsored enterprises and other projects.

Previously, Mr. Dorfman was president and chief executive of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, where he was responsible for guiding the direction of the firm.

Maddock Douglas Inc. has hired Maria Umbach, 44, as vice president of financial services innovation.

She will help companies spark innovation by capitalizing on emerging trends, consumer preferences and communications modalities.

Previously, Ms. Umbach was vice president and chief marketing officer at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, where she developed strategic marketing programs based on behavioral-finance findings.

First Allied Securities Inc. has hired Mark Quinn, 54, as chief risk officer.

He is responsible for the review and oversight of First Allied’s systems and processes, with the objective of mitigating risks the firm may encounter, including legal and regulatory issues.

Mr. Quinn will focus on the design and implementation of procedures to ensure the firm’s continuing compliance with applicable laws and industry regulations. He is also responsible for the direct oversight of the firm’s supervision, compliance and investment advisory compliance teams.

Previously, Mr. Quinn was in private law practice and acted as a consultant for broker-dealers and investment advisers.

Prudential Financial Inc. has hired Bjorn Flesaker, 47, as a managing director and head of quantitative modeling.

He is responsible for leading quantitative research and the team that develops models to assist traders and portfolio managers in identifying investment opportunities.

Previously, Mr. Flesaker was a credit derivatives business manager at Bloomberg LP.

Saturna Capital Corp. has hired two field representatives, S. Ali Farooq and M. Nayeem Qureshi.

Mr. Farooq, 27, will serve as the senior wholesale manager for the Midwest region. He is responsible for conducting outreach and providing support to financial advisers to ensure better understanding of the Amana Mutual Funds and other investment products managed and administered by Saturna.

Previously, Mr. Farooq was a wealth manager at B.C. Ziegler & Co.

Mr. Qureshi, 50, will serve as the director of philanthropy and trust services.

He will oversee the nationwide “Leaving a Legacy” estate-planning seminar series co-sponsored by Saturna Trust Co., which specializes in the administration of trust services for American Muslims and the Islamic Society of North America.

In addition, Mr. Qureshi will manage development of Saturna’s donor-advised fund products and services.

Previously, he was the director of global sales at software company Newdea.

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. has hired R. Charles Shufeldt, 59, as a senior adviser to the firm.

He will work with Brown Brothers’ investment-management division with a specific emphasis on private-equity investing.

Mr. Shufeldt will also assist the firm’s M&A advisory, wealth management and investment management businesses.

Previously, he was the corporate executive vice president at SunTrust Bank, where he was the head of the corporate and investment- banking line of business.