Russell adds senior asset allocation strategist to meet growing demand for strategic solutions (Russell.com)

Russell Adds Senior Asset Allocation Strategist to Meet Growing Demand for Strategic Solutions

Tacoma, WA — Russell Investment Group has hired Christopher DeMeo, CFA, as senior strategist, asset liability, for U.S. Institutional Investor Services. Based in New York City, he joins the research and strategy team which provides Russell's institutional clients with a broad range of research-based solutions in areas including asset allocation and asset liability, investment strategies and implementation approaches. DeMeo will particularly focus on Russell's array of liability-driven solutions that serve a range of strategic options for defined benefit plans, including the situation of frozen plans.

DeMeo joins at a time when more defined benefit plans are looking for Russell's strategic advice and implementation solutions. To this end, many clients are leveraging the recently launched Russell Road Map to identify the combination of products and services that best matches their individual plan's strategic approach.

"Chris is an excellent addition to our team, and his extensive background will enhance our ability to support our strategic work with clients," said Robert Blackwell, managing director, research and strategy. "Defined benefit plans want an expert at the table who can provide strategic advice and investment solutions and Russell is well positioned to provide clients with the research, advice and insight they need."

Previously, DeMeo was director of retirement capital solutions at Merrill Lynch Retirement Group in Pennington, NJ. In this capacity he served as head of the institutional investment and plan sponsor consulting group, leading a team focused on developing innovative investment solutions and advising plan sponsors on strategic investment and asset liability issues. DeMeo graduated from Syracuse University and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), Enrolled Actuary (EA) and CFA charterholder.

About Russell
Russell Investment Group, a global leader in multi-manager investing, provides strategic advice and investment products and services in more than 44 countries. Russell manages more than $167 billion in assets as of March 31, 2006, and advises clients worldwide representing more than $2.4 trillion (as of 9/30/05).

Founded in 1936, Russell is headquartered in Tacoma, Wash., with additional offices in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Sydney, Singapore, Auckland and Tokyo.

Contacts:
Jennifer Tice, 253-439-1858
Matt Burkhard, 718-875-2122

Russell Investment Group is a registered trade name of Frank Russell Company, a Washington, USA corporation, which operates through subsidiaries worldwide. Frank Russell Company is a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.

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