Joanne Pietrini-Smith Named Chief Operating Officer of AXA Equitable Wholesale Life Insurance Unit
May 12 2008 - 10:13AM
PR Newswire (US)
Brings Proven Leadership and Operations Skills to the Business NEW
YORK, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Joanne Pietrini-Smith has
been appointed Chief Operating Officer of AXA Partners, the life
insurance business unit of AXA Distributors, LLC., based in
Farmington, CT. The announcement was made today by Gary Hirschkron,
President of AXA Partners and Executive Vice President of AXA
Distributors, LLC., the company's proprietary life insurance and
annuity wholesale distribution organization. Ms. Pietrini-Smith
will oversee the management and optimization of AXA Partners,
including the operational aspects of new business and sales. "We
are delighted to welcome Joanne in her new role as COO," said Mr.
Hirschkron. "AXA Partners has grown rapidly since we entered the
life insurance wholesale business in 2004. With her outstanding
management and operations skills, her technology expertise, and
record of delivering high- performance results, Joanne will play an
integral role in AXA Partners' drive to galvanize further growth in
third-party life distribution." Ms. Pietrini-Smith joined AXA
Equitable in December 2003 as Senior Vice President responsible for
the integration of The MONY Group following its acquisition by AXA.
Since May 2006, Ms. Pietrini-Smith has served as Senior Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of AXA Equitable's
Information Technology group, focusing on strategic initiatives and
business operations. Previously, she served as Senior Vice
President and Chief of Staff for AXA Equitable's retail
distribution organization, AXA Advisors, LLC. Prior to joining AXA
Equitable in 2003, Ms. Pietrini-Smith held various leadership
positions with First Republic Bank, including Vice President and
Chief Investment Officer of the bank and Chief Administrative
Officer for Trainer Wortham & Company, an investment
subsidiary. Previously, she was Vice President and Manager of
Strategic Planning and Administration with Mellon Bank Corporation
in Pittsburgh, PA. Ms. Pietrini-Smith holds a B.A. in Computer
Science with Business from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH
and a M.B.A. from Babson College in Wellesley, MA. About AXA
Equitable In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance
Company is a leading financial protection company and one of the
nation's premier providers of life insurance, annuity, and
investment products and services. AXA Equitable's assets under
management totaled $888.6 billion as of December 31, 2007. The
company's products and services are distributed to individuals and
business owners through its retail distribution channel AXA
Advisors, LLC; to the financial services market through its
wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC; and to
corporations and their employees through its corporate distribution
channel, Corporate Markets. AXA Equitable, a subsidiary of AXA
Financial Inc., is part of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader
in financial protection strategies and wealth management. AXA
Group's operations are geographically diverse, with major
operations in Europe, North America, and the Asia/Pacific region.
AXA Group is listed as the 15th largest company in the world on the
2007 Fortune Global 500 list (based on revenues). It had $1.87
trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2007. Listed
on the Paris Stock Exchange, the AXA ordinary share trades under
the symbol AXA. The AXA American Depositary Share is listed on the
New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol AXA. About AXA
Partners AXA Partners distributes AXA Equitable proprietary life
insurance products on a wholesale basis to brokerage general agents
(BGAs), broker/dealers, independent financial planner producer
groups and to the AXA Advisors, LLC retail distribution network of
financial professionals. It is a business unit of AXA Distributors,
LLC. These products include Athena Universal Life Series(SM) and
Athena Survivorship Life(SM), Incentive Life (IL) Series(SM) of
flexible premium variable universal life, including Incentive
Life(SM) Corporate Owned Life Insurance and Survivorship Incentive
Life(SM), the Level Term Series(SM) and Return of Premium Term(SM).
DATASOURCE: AXA Equitable CONTACT: Media, Discretion Winter of AXA
Equitable, +1-212-314-2968, Web site: http://www.axa-equitable.com/
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