The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., announced today the formation of Hartford Life Distributors (HLD), a newly combined sales and distribution organization for its investment and retirement products. This new structure will increase the firm’s focus on its distribution partners while enhancing the overall experience for financial advisors and their clients.
Hartford Life Distributors brings together the internal and external sales units, marketing and sales support teams, strategic relationship management groups and business development areas that support The Hartford’s mutual funds, annuities, 401k plans and 529 college savings program. These businesses represent $25 billion in deposits for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009 and are supported by a field sales force of 240 professionals. Through this combination, the firm expects to achieve greater alignment and consistency across its sales, marketing and service teams while continuing to leverage its product specialist capabilities to support specific customer needs within each of these distinct markets.
The Hartford has appointed Kevin Connor, 49, to lead HLD. In a newly expanded role, Connor will oversee all aspects of HLD, including internal and external sales and sales support, marketing, strategic relationship management and business development. Connor, an executive vice president, most recently led marketing, relationship management and business development for investment and retirement products. A life insurance industry veteran, he has held several important leadership positions with The Hartford in a nearly 30 year career focused on sales and distribution management within the retirement arena.
“Hartford Life Distributors is a major step toward accomplishing our goal of providing investment and retirement solutions that are both transparent and easy for our customers to use. It further enhances our focus on the needs of our distribution partners and our customers,” said Jim Davey, executive vice president and director of The Hartford’s investment and retirement division. “With the creation of HLD and the appointment of Kevin Connor, we have the right products, structure and leadership to accelerate growth in this very important business area for The Hartford.”
