The $38.6 billion Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund board of trustees has hired City of Memphis CFO and director of finance and administration Brian Collins as the organization’s next executive director.
Collins’ hiring concludes a nationwide search to identify a successor to IMRF executive director Louis Kosiba, who is retiring at the end of the year. Collins’ start date is Jan. 8, 2018.
Collins said that he is honored to be named IMRF’s next executive director.
“With a funded status near 95 percent and top-quartile customer service, IMRF is a national leader in the public pension industry,” said Collins. “I’m excited to partner with the board and staff to continue to achieve our vision of providing the highest quality retirement services to our members, their beneficiaries and employers.”
As Memphis’ CFO, Collins reports directly to the mayor and is responsible for all financial functions of the city. He has deep knowledge of public pensions, having played a key role in the improved financial condition of the city’s pension plan in recent years. He is also a former adjunct professor and member of the graduate faculty at the University of Memphis department of finance, insurance and real estate.
Before joining the city in 2012, Collins spent more than 20 years in banking at First Horizon National Corp., Citigroup, and J.P. Morgan, and a decade working in commercial litigation in Chicago.
IMRF board of trustees president Sue Stanish said that the board was attracted to the depth and diversity of Collins’ professional experience.
“He has worked at the highest levels of both municipal government and the private sector; he has a background in both finance and the law; he has experience successfully partnering with external stakeholders, including politicians and the media; and he knows public pensions,” said Stanish. “Brian is ready to lead this organization to even higher levels of achievement.”
