Ehnes ToTake CalSTRS’ Helm

Former Colorado insurance commissioner Jack Ehnes has been tapped to take over the chief executive role at the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), a public pension fund valued at $97.7 million, on February 4.

Ehnes replaces James Mosman, who is leaving the Sacramento, Calif.-based pension plan to become executive director of the National Council on Teacher Retirement, an industry organization also based in Sacramento. Mosman, who led CalSTRS for 13 years, announced his resignation in June. All tolled, Mosman’s state government career has spanned 30 years.

At CalSTRS, his role was much like that of a chief operating officer: he was responsible for administration and operation of the entire system. Ehnes will act in a similar capacity and, as such, CalSTRS’ Chief Investment Officer, Christopher Ailman, will be his direct report.

Ehnes is the former vice president of corporate affairs for Denver-based Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co., a provider of health and life insurance plans and an administrator of defined-contribution retirement plans. Previously, he had served as Colorado’s insurance commissioner and sat on the board of the $31 billion Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association for 11 years.