WESTWOOD, Mass., February 9, 2009 – New York Life Retirement Plan Services, a division of New York Life Investments, has appointed Deanna Garen managing director of participant strategy. 

In this newly created role, Garen will oversee New York Life’s participant communications group, the rollover strategy team and also the participant service center. She will report to Don Salama, senior managing director of New York Life Retirement Plan Services.

“We are thrilled to welcome Deanna to this senior role. We created this new strategic position to manage all participants’ interactions with their plan.  Given Deanna’s extensive expertise and successful track-record in the industry, we look forward to her contributions in this critical function,” said Salama.  “Additionally, we are pleased to be in a position to hire in such a difficult market environment. I believe it underlines our strong commitment to the retirement business.”

Until this appointment, Garen was an independent consultant as principal of Garen Consulting LLC. Previously, she served at Prudential Retirement as senior vice president of strategic planning and development, responsible for the development and implementation of Prudential Retirement's overall business strategy. Garen also oversaw merger and acquisition activities, competitive intelligence, strategic communications, and government affairs.

Prior to joining Prudential, Garen was head of communications and education for CIGNA's full-service retirement business, which was acquired by Prudential in April 2004. She was responsible for the development and delivery of education services for retirement plan participants, including web-based solutions.

Garen is NASD (FINRA) Series 7 and 24 qualified and also serves on the advisory board of Pensions & Investments magazine.  She holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University in Sacramento. 

About New York Life Retirement Plan Services

 New York Life Retirement Plan Services oversees more than 1,900 comprehensive defined contribution, defined benefit and deferred compensation plans as of 12/31/08. With offices in Westwood, Massachusetts, and Parsippany, New Jersey, New York Life Retirement Plan Services administers retirement programs for small, medium and large companies, multi-employer plans, and individuals throughout the United States, and is widely recognized for its leadership in bundled defined contribution and bundled defined benefit plans.

About New York Life Investments

 New York Life Investments ranks among the largest asset management firms in the United States.[1] Through its multiple boutique investment structure, New York Life Investments delivers investment performance through an array of products designed for both institutional and retail clients. Through MainStay Investments and NYLIFE Distributors LLC, New York Life Investments distributes some of the most highly regarded mutual funds and wrap accounts in the industry.

 New York Life Investments is a leading provider of retirement plans for corporations, multi-employer trusts, and individuals, and is recognized as one of the nation's top providers of guaranteed products to both the qualified and non-qualified markets. Together with its affiliates and over 1,400 employees, New YorkLife Investments manages over $224 billion in assets as of December 31, 2008.

“New York Life Investments” is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, New York Life Investment Management LLC. 

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