The Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (MOSERS) will have a new face at the helm when Abby Spieler takes over as its executive director at the beginning of next year.
Spieler, MOSERS' current deputy director and general counsel, will take the position effective Jan. 1, 2023, upon the official retirement of outgoing Executive Director Ronda Stegmann.
Spieler has served as counsel since 2018 after a tenure with the International Tax Services group at PricewaterCoopers LLC., a professional service firm with an office in St. Louis. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri and a lifelong Missourian.
"I am honored to have been selected by the Board of Trustees as MOSERS' next executive director," Spieler said in a statement. "I am excited to have the opportunity to lead such a dedicated team to advance the financial security of our members."
Stegmann announced her retirement plans last month. She had joined MOSERS in 2015 after serving as executive director of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement.
The MOSERS Board of Trustees conducted a national search following the announcement, eventually selecting Spieler.
"Abby has a deep commitment to MOSERS' membership and all stakeholders, which is evident in her unwavering work ethic and dedication to the organization," Board Chairwoman Crystal Wessing said. "The board is confident in Abby's ability to lead the System and looks forward to working collaboratively with her and all of MOSERS staff for the betterment of our members."
Stegmann's transition follows the retirement of another long-time MOSERS leader. TJ Carlson was named as the new chief investment officer last year following the retirement of Shannon Davidson, who had been with the fund for 25 years.
The board has made changes this year related to current events, recently voting to halt the use of proxy voting -- which allows company shareholders to weigh in on issues regarding public companies and to vote in board member elections -- after a large investment firm used its votes to appoint controversial members to the Exxon Board. It also ceased all Russian investments amid the conflict in Ukraine.
MOSERS has been serving state employees since 1957, offering retirement benefits, pension plans, life and disability insurance and deferred compensation. The system serves around 142,000 current and retired state employees and beneficiaries, according to its website. The pension fund amounts to around $9 billion.
Missouri is home to more than 50,000 state employees, according to the Office of Administration. More than 14,000 of them live in the Jefferson City area, according to statistics from the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce.