Rob Pettman, an executive vice president and head of wealth management solutions at LPL Financial, has left the firm after 17 years, according to a post on LinkedIn.com. Friday was his last day.
Pettman said he’s leaving the independent broker/dealer to pursue an opportunity at a financial technology company, “where I’ll apply my wealth management expertise to make a lasting impact on our industry,” he said. He didn’t name the fintech, and he didn’t respond to a request seeking comment by press time.
“What has kept me motivated and inspired over the years has been the opportunity to innovate and continually stretch and challenge myself across many facets of the business,” Pettman said in the LinkedIn post. “Leaving behind familiar faces and a company I’ve grown alongside is bittersweet, but I’m eager to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit that LPL has instilled in all of us.”
"We congratulate Rob for embracing his own entrepreneurial spirit, something we value above all at LPL, and pursuing a long-time career aspiration after nearly two decades at LPL," said Kendra Galante, a spokeswoman for LPL. "We are excited about the opportunity this creates for the tenured leadership team within Wealth Management Solutions, including Kate Winters, Tom Murphy, Jay Jackson, and Steve Snyder. Combined, these next-generation LPL leaders have over 100 years of wealth management industry experience, the majority spent at LPL. With their experience and client-centric focus, this team will continue to drive momentum and provide a seamless transition."
Aneri Jambusaria, managing director of LPL Services Group, will continue to lead the group, while the firm searches for Pettman's replacement.
LPL has seen some senior leadership changes recently; in February, a public filing said Kabir Sethi, managing director and chief product officer, would leave at the end of March after a little less than two years with LPL. The firm cited an “organizational realignment of certain business functions” for the departure.
Last August, Heather Carter, chief marketing and communication officer at LPL, stepped down from her role after more than 19 years with the firm. The firm recently hired Christa Carone to replace her. Carone joined from Infillion, a private advertising and marketing technology company, where she was president.
Joanna Kanakis recently joined LPL as a senior vice president and head of business development for the firm’s financial institutions channel. Previously, she was an exective vice president and head of business development at Halo Investing, a platform that provides access to structured notes.