Movers & Shakers: Great-West Financial Hires Joe Westendorf

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO — Great-West Financial has appointed Joe Westendorf regional sales director for its bank markets business, announced Chris Bergeon, vice

Joseph Westendorf

president, financial institutions markets. In this position, Westendorf will assist bank advisors in the sale of Great-West Financial retirement income and life insurance products to bank clients. Westendorf resides in Bradenton, Fla., and reports to Kris Davis, national sales director.

“Banks and their clients across Florida will benefit from Joe’s keen understanding of the bank marketplace and its clients’ retirement income and life insurance needs,” Bergeon said. “I’m confident he will be an immediate asset to bank executives and advisors who are counting on Great-West Financial to help them bring some of the best retirement income and life insurance solutions to Florida clients.”

Before joining Great-West Financial, Westendorf served as a financial advisor the past year for AXA Advisors. From 2005 to 2011 he was employed at Franklin Templeton Investments in a number of increasingly responsible sales roles. His most recent position at Franklin Templeton was as vice president, external wholesaler. While in this role, he provided leadership to almost 3,150 advisors.

At year-end 2011, his top 300 advisors had increased sales 9% over the previous year. From 1998 to 2005 he held financial advisor and branch leadership positions at Morgan Stanley. Westendorf received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Miami. He has a bachelor’s degree from Catawba College. Westendorf holds NASD Series 7, 9, 10, 24, 31, 63 licenses. He also holds a Florida life and variable annuity license.

“As we expand our sales team across the country, we’re pleased to add someone with Joe’s expertise,” Bergeon said. “He’s built solid relationships with bankers and financial advisors and will be able to make an immediate impact on sales through the bank channel.”

About Great-West Financial

Great-West Financial is the service mark for Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company. Headquartered in metro Denver, Great-West Financial serves its 5 million customers through a range of retirement savings products and services, life insurance and annuities.

Great-West Financial is the nation’s largest underwriter of life insurance sold through banks (BISRA Life Report, Third Quarter 2012, based on total premiums at Sept. 30, 2012) and fourth-largest retirement plan record keeper (Pensions & Investments, April 2012, based on total participant accounts at year-end 2011). It is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco Inc. and “A Member of the Power Financial Corporation Group of Companies” ®.