Six New Members Appointed to the 2019 ERISA Advisory Council

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the U.S. Department of Labor announced the appointments of six new members as well as chair and vice chair to the 2019 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council.

“The ERISA Advisory Council advises the Department’s work in enhancing and preserving the health and retirement benefits of America’s workers,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “These professionals will help the council accomplish its goals. Their expertise will be a valuable complement to the Department’s mission to protect workers’ benefits.”

The 15-member council provides advice on policies and regulations affecting employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). By law, members of the council serve for staggered three-year terms. Three members represent employee organizations (at least one of which’s members are participants in a multiemployer plan). Three members represent employers (at least one of whom represents employers maintaining or contributing to multiemployer plans). Three members represent the general public. There is one representative each from the fields of insurance, corporate trust, actuarial counseling, investment counseling, investment management and accounting.

Current members Srinivas D. Reddy and David Kritz will serve as the chair and vice chair, respectively, of the council.

Reddy is a Senior Vice President in Retirement and Income Solutions, Principal Financial Group, where he leads the Annuities, Full Service Payout and Principal Bank businesses. His previous work experience as an insurance company executive includes various product and sales leadership roles for Prudential, USAA and ING Group. Reddy is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Kritz is General Attorney for Norfolk Southern Corporation, where he provides legal advice on benefits and compensation issues. He has over 25 years of experience as an ERISA attorney, including positions at Eversheds Sutherland, Akin Gump, and at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). He serves on the Policy Board of Directors of the American Benefits Council.

The newly appointed members and the expertise they represent are:

Employers:
Glenn Butash is Managing Counsel, U.S. Compensation & Benefits at Nokia. He provides legal advice in connection with the design and operation of large, complex, defined benefit, defined contribution, and welfare benefit plans. Mr. Butash also provides legal advice to Nokia’s fiduciary committees and to Nokia’s SEC-registered investment advisor subsidiary.

William B. Johnsen is Director – Employee Benefits Law at FedEx Corporation. He provides legal advice to the FedEx healthcare and retirement departments on ERISA-covered benefits, and reviews and approves all communications regarding employee benefit plans. His prior experience includes serving both as in-house and outside counsel for employee benefit legal issues.

Actuarial Counseling:
Andrea T. Sellars is a retired Consulting Actuary who spent over 40 years, most recently at Buck Consultants, working with employers and plan sponsors to design, administer, fund, properly account for, and ensure compliance of their retirement programs. Ms. Sellars remains active in both the Society of Actuaries and the American Academy of Actuaries.

General Public:
Julie A. Curtis retired as Director of Actuarial Services for the Boeing Company. She has served as Chairman of the Retirement Section Council of the Society of Actuaries and is currently serving as a member of the Society’s Board of Directors. Ms. Curtis writes articles for various publications and organizes sessions and webcasts for continuing education.

Investment Counseling:
Marcy L. Supovitz is a principal with Boulay Donnelly & Supovitz Consulting Group, Inc. She advises corporate retirement plan sponsors on investment strategy, fiduciary governance, and participant investment education. Ms. Supovitz has over 35 years of experience in employee benefits and is a past president of the American Retirement Association.

Employee organizations:
Tearyn J. Loving is General Counsel for the Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund. She advises trustees and management on all aspects of governance, compliance, and fiduciary responsibilities. Ms. Loving has more than 20 years’ experience working with private-sector benefits funds, including multiemployer pension and health funds.