TIAA-CREF Expands Asset Management Institutional Sales Team

NEW YORK, March 3 -- TIAA-CREF issued the following news release:

TIAA-CREF, a leading financial services organization, today announced Jennifer Pedigo, CFA, has joined the company as head of institutional asset management distribution for the Americas. Pedigo will report to John Panagakis, head of asset management business development. The appointment is effective immediately.

"We are delighted to welcome Jennifer to our growing team," Panagakis said. "We are seeing increased demand for TIAA-CREF's investing capabilities, and Jennifer's deep experience in business development and relationship management will help us continue to build solid partnerships with key business partners and investors."

Pedigo will be part of an eight-person institutional sales team responsible for building partnerships with plan sponsors, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, foundations and nonprofit organizations in the Americas.

Her appointment continues to build on TIAA-CREF's ongoing expansion of its global sales and distribution capabilities. In 2014, TIAA-CREF plans to establish a formal sales presence in Europe and hire two additional executives for the United States, as well as a new dedicated hire for the Asia Pacific region who will focus on educating investors about TIAA-CREF's broad investment capabilities, including real assets, fixed income and equity.

"Jennifer's appointment underscores the firm's commitment to reaching sophisticated institutional investors worldwide and raising the visibility of TIAA-CREF investment products and strategies in the global marketplace," added Panagakis.

Pedigo has more than 25 years of experience in institutional sales. She joins TIAA-CREF from BMO Global Asset Management, where she was head of institutional sales. Prior to BMO, Pedigo was director of sales and client service at Chicago Equity Partners, having served as managing director of institutional marketing and client service at Principal Global Investors before that.

Pedigo also has been active in state and national pension organizations. She holds a B.B.A. and a M.B.A. from the University of Iowa. She is a registered representative with FINRA and holds Series 7, 24 and 66 registrations.

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