People Moves: Wells Fargo Hires Former Google AI Finance Lead
Wells Fargo has hired Andre Mansour as head of artificial intelligence for its wealth and investment management division, the company announced. Mansour joins from Google, where he led generative AI initiatives for its capital markets and asset management clients.
In his new role, Mansour is tasked with overseeing the firm’s advisor-focused AI strategy, scaling it for client insights and personalization, and partnering across business and enterprise teams to deliver solutions, a spokesperson wrote via email. He will report to Chief Product Officer Eve Varner.
“Andre’s hiring reflects the firm’s continued commitment to building scalable, advisor-focused AI capabilities,” the spokesperson wrote.
At Google, Mansour had been head of capital markets, investment banking and asset management, where he led AI initiatives for the division and worked on platform partnerships, including “integrating machine learning and scalable data infrastructure into complex wealth and trading platforms,” according to his LinkedIn profile.
Google and other AI-focused firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic have been making inroads into the financial services sector. Earlier this year, Citi Wealth introduced an artificial intelligence avatar, Citi Sky, powered by Google Cloud and Google DeepMind, to access market insights and financial guidance. The new tool will be available to Citigold clients this summer in a phased roll-out.
Arkadios Capital Names CFO with M&A Background
Arkadios Capital, an Atlanta-based independent broker/dealer, has appointed Christopher Camp as chief financial officer.
Camp takes the job after serving in the same post at Miles Mediation and Arbitration, where he oversaw acquisitions and revenue-growth projects. The CFO position is new at Arkadios, according to a spokesperson.
“Chris is the kind of leader we want helping guide the next chapter of Arkadios,” David Millican, founder and CEO of Arkadios, said in a statement.
Earlier in his career, Camp held senior financial leadership roles with firms including Triad Advisors, U.S. Orthopedic Partners, Biota Pharmaceuticals and Teavana.
The hire comes shortly after Arkadios announced it had hired Michael Childs from Truist Wealth to launch a new private wealth platform channel. In the role, Childs is leading the channel aimed at advisory teams looking to break away from wirehouses, family offices, and private banks.
Citywire first reported on Childs hiring and the new division.
Merit Adds CFO and EVP of Financial Planning
Merit Financial Advisors, an Atlanta-based registered investment advisor with $26 billion in client assets, has appointed Doug Moore as chief financial officer and Sarah Mouser as executive vice president of financial planning.
Moore joins from Edelman Financial Engines, where he served as head of finance for more than four years. Mouser makes the jump from Verdence Capital Advisors, where she was a managing director.
At Merit, Moore will oversee strategic financial operations, including accounting, financial planning and analysis, decision support and financial data and analytics.
Mouser will focus on expanding the firm’s planning infrastructure, identifying and mentoring next-generation planning talent, evaluating planning technology, and developing career pathways for financial planners and advisors.
The firm also launched an executive leadership development program in partnership with ClientWise, which includes 27 executive leaders and is designed to strengthen collaboration, align leadership, and enable scalability.
Merit, backed by Constellation Wealth Capital, has been one of the most active RIA acquirers in the space over the past year under the direction of CEO Rick Kent and President Kay Lynn Mayhue.
AC Family Office Adds Henry Pizzutello as Partner
Alpha Capital Family Office, a Denver-based RIA providing outsourced family office services, has added Henry Pizzutello as a partner to lead the firm’s expansion into Texas with offices in The Woodlands and Beaumont.
Pizzutello joins from HFG Wealth Management, where he served as chief investment officer and led portfolio management, and previously served as managing director and head trader for the Bass Family Office in Fort Worth, Texas.
“Henry brings an extensive level of investment expertise from his institutional and hedge fund background,” Timothy Kneen, principal at AC Family Office, said in a statement.
The firm anticipates opening a Dallas office later this year, the company said.
Brighton Jones Opens Cleveland Office With Mitchell Kotheimer as Lead Advisor
Brighton Jones, a $30 billion wealth management firm based in Seattle, has expanded into Ohio with a new Cleveland office, overseen by Mitchell Kotheimer, who will serve as lead advisor, the RIA announced on May 19.
Kotheimer joins from Independence Wealth Advisors, where he served as a senior financial planner and has worked with more than 350 families throughout his career. In his new role, he will act as the personal chief financial officer for clients, managing their investments, tax and estate plans, philanthropic efforts and wealth strategies.
Cleveland is Brighton Jones’ sixth new office opening in the past two years, according to the company. It expanded into Atlanta, Georgia, about one year ago.
Next, the RIA intends to expand into Detroit; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Salt Lake City; San Diego; St. Louis and Stamford, Conn., and is seeking to bring on advisors in those regions, the company said.