Lori Lucas, a longtime player in the retirement savings industry, has been named President and CEO of the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), effective Wednesday.
Lucas was previously executive vice president at Callan Associates, where she focused on improving defined contribution offerings through consulting and research efforts, in addition to working with plan sponsors and other clients directly. She’s also been involved with EBRI since 1999, most recently was the vice chair of its research committee.
“With her business leadership, extensive research experience and exceptional vision, Ms. Lucas will successfully lead our organization as we address the challenging retirement, healthcare and other financial security questions facing public and benefits leaders,” said Stacy Schaus, chairman of EBRI’s Board of Trustees.
As Americans’ security in retirement is being challenged more than ever, Lucas brings to the position the goal of improving accessibility and relevance of objective, unbiased financial information. She wants everyone—not only industry professionals, policymakers and media, but also the average worker—to benefit from EBRI’s data and research on retirement, savings and health programs for workers. This is especially “critical in today’s evolving employee benefits environment,” Lucas said.
The newly appointed CEO’s past includes stints as Director of Retirement Research at Hewitt Associates, Vice President at Ibbotson Associates, a pension fund consultant at J.H. Ellwood & Associates, and an analyst and product head at Morningstar, Inc. Well prepared for what may lie ahead, she has testified before the Senate HELP Committee, ERISA Advisory Council and more, and has also been a featured speaker at national and international conferences on retirement topics.
Lucas succeeds Harry Conaway, who was named interim president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2016. EBRI was founded in 1978 and is committed to providing high-quality information without lobbying, advocacy involvement or and underlying agenda.
Jessa Claeys is a writer, editor and graphic designer.
