Wilshire Associates Incorporated (Wilshire®), a leading global, independent investment consulting, investment management and services firm, today announced the recent promotion of seven executives to managing director.

“Leadership is a defining characteristic at Wilshire, and the following executives represent the commitment to excellence that serves as a foundation for our organization,” said John C. Hindman, president of Wilshire Associates. “I congratulate each of these executives for their stellar contributions and exemplary dedication to our clients.”

Following are the representative business units and names of the recently promoted executives:

Wilshire Analytics

Michael R. Kennedy is a managing director in the Wilshire Analytics business unit. He joined Wilshire in 2011 and manages sales and development of the Investment Market Services business for Wilshire Analytics, including Wilshire Family of Indexes, Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service (Wilshire TUCS®), Manager Universes and development of investment products based on indexes in all asset classes.

Wilshire Consulting

Jonathan Miles, CFA, CAIA, is a managing director who leads Wilshire Consulting’s hedge fund advisory group, coordinating direct hedge fund research and consulting efforts. Prior to joining Wilshire in 2009, Miles worked at Mercer conducting single strategy hedge fund manager due diligence and portfolio construction. Previously, Miles worked at Ritchie Capital Management.

Wilshire Funds Management

Leah Emkin is a managing director who heads Wilshire Funds Management’s global client services group. She joined Wilshire in 2008 and is responsible for relationship management and marketing activities on behalf of Wilshire Funds Management’s client base of financial institutions and intermediaries. Emkin also serves as the lead relationship manager for several of Wilshire's financial intermediary clients, assisting them with product development, marketing, investment and field sales support activities.

Saeed Gorbani is a managing director who heads Wilshire Funds Management’s information technology group. Gorbani joined Wilshire in 2010 and has 18 years’ experience developing service-oriented software systems. He currently leads Wilshire Funds Management’s client-facing technology efforts. Previously, he provided technical and analytical direction in academia and the aerospace industry.

Erin Simpson is a managing director who heads Wilshire Funds Management’s operations and risk management group, and also oversees operational aspects of Wilshire’s alternative managed account platform. Simpson joined Wilshire in 2013, is a voting member of the Wilshire Funds Management Investment Committee, and has more than a decade of experience in risk management and portfolio construction within the alternative asset industry.

Wilshire Private Markets

Alexander Brummeler, CFA, is a managing director who serves on Wilshire Private Market’s business and investment committees. He is responsible for origination, due diligence, and monitoring investments across private market sectors in the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining Wilshire in 2004, Brummeler worked in investment banking, most recently for a boutique advisory firm based in Asia.

Mark Perry is a managing director who serves on Wilshire Private Market’s business and investment committee. He is responsible for sourcing, due diligence, and monitoring investments across private market sectors within the U.S. and Canada. Prior to joining Wilshire in 2012, Perry was a vice president at Centinela Capital Partners.

About Wilshire Associates

Wilshire Associates, a leading global financial services firm, provides consulting services, analytics solutions and customized investment solutions to plan sponsors, investment managers and financial intermediaries. Its business units include, Wilshire Analytics, Wilshire Consulting, Wilshire Funds Management and Wilshire Private Markets.

The firm was founded in 1972, providing revolutionary technology and acting as an early innovator in the application of investment analytics and research to investment managers in the institutional marketplace. Wilshire also is credited with helping to develop the field of quantitative investment analysis that uses mathematical tools to analyze market risks. All other business units evolved from Wilshire’s strong analytics foundation. Wilshire developed the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index and became an early innovator in creating integrated asset/liability analysis/simulation models as well as practical models in risk budgeting through beta and active risk analysis. Wilshire has grown to a firm of approximately 300 employees serving the needs of investors around the world.

Based in Santa Monica, California, Wilshire provides services to clients in more than 20 countries representing more than 500 organizations with assets totaling approximately US $8 trillion.* With ten offices worldwide, Wilshire Associates and its affiliates are dedicated to providing clients with the highest quality counsel, products and services. Wilshire® and Wilshire 5000® are registered service marks of Wilshire Associates Incorporated. Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index℠ is a service mark of Wilshire Associates Incorporated.

Please visit www.wilshire.com for more information.
Twitter: @WilshireAssoc

*Client assets are as represented by Pensions and Investments, detailed in P&I’s “Largest Retirement Funds” and P&I’s “Largest Money Managers (U.S. institutional tax-exempt assets)” as of 9/30/14 and 12/31/14, and published 2/9/15 and 5/18/15, respectively).