MassMutual Retirement Services Promotes One, Hires One

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MassMutual's Retirement Services Division is pleased to announce the promotion of John Budd and welcome Brian Mezey to its sales and client management organization, led by Hugh O'Toole, senior vice president.

John Buddhas been appointed national practice leader covering the division's institutional retirement products. In this newly created role, Budd is responsible for leading MassMutual's distribution strategy for its stable value investment only and defined benefit businesses, working closely with the division's managing directors and their key advisor relationships. Most recently, Budd had served as managing director with MassMutual Retirement Services, a position he held for over 24 years. Budd reports to Jonathan Shuman, vice president and head of business development for MassMutual's Retirement Services Division.

Brian Mezey joined MassMutual's Retirement Services Division as managing director of institutional sales, taking over Budd's duties. In this role, Mezey is responsible for working with retirement plan advisors in the mid- and large-markets, and is partnered with Andy Hanlon covering the eastern New England region. Mezey joins MassMutual from E&M Consulting of Raymond James & Associates, Inc., where he was a top retirement plan advisor and a member of MassMutual's Advisor Partners Council. Mezey reports to Scott Buffington, national sales manager for 's Retirement Services Division.

"John is highly regarded in the New England territory and has built strong relationships with retirement plan advisors and sponsors over the years," says O'Toole. "We're very excited to see John transition into his new role and to welcome a candidate of Brian's caliber to continue the outstanding service to this territory. These changes come as a result of strong results in both the stable value investment only and defined benefit businesses, and we will continue to grow our sales and client management organization to ensure exceptional support in all the markets we serve," adds O'Toole.

For more information about MassMutual Retirement Services, please contact your retirement plan advisor or call MassMutual at 1-866-444-2601.

About MassMutual
MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) [of which Retirement Services is a division] and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyholders every year since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company's strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has been serving retirement plans for 65 years. It offers a full range of products and services for corporate, union, nonprofit and governmental employers' defined benefit, defined contribution and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. It serves approximately 1.4 million participants.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or "Like" MassMutual on Facebook and Facebook.com/retiresmart.

Copyright ©2012 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and affiliates, Springfield, MA 01111-0001. All rights reserved.

To request a copy of the images, please contact Jessica Barry at  [email protected]

Contact: Jessica Barry
413-744-8334
[email protected]

SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services