Hartford Investment Management Company just tapped a new chief marketer. John Doyle, who had led marketing at T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, confirmed that he joined the Hartford, Connecticut-based manager in November as executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

A spokesman with Baltimore-based T. Rowe could not immediately be reached for comment on who now leads retirement marketing for the mutual fund firm.

Doyle described the move as "a really good opportunity" to extend his experience from the 401(k) and retail sides of the business.

"A lot of the role is focused on the direct investment management products [institutional products like separate accounts] for the clients," Doyle told MFWire, adding that the firm's "really developing the brand there" in the institutional marketplace. "On other other side, we're providing marketing support, sales support and research."

Watch for Doyle to unveil his marketing plans for HIMCo, but not just yet.

"We're still in the process of putting together a long-term strategic marketing plan," Doyle confided.

HIMCo, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Hartford, handles direct institutional assets while also subadvising assets (mostly fixed income and asset allocation) for Hartford's own mutual funds; Wellington handles the equity side. Hartford boasted $31 billion in retail mutual fund AUM at the end of 2008 (see MFWire, 2/6/2009), and mutual fund and 529 chief Keith Sloane stressed that the firm is "very committed" to growing its fund business.

"The Hartford likes the mutual fund business," Sloane, a senior vice president, told MFWire, adding that the firm was one of only 39 percent of fund managers to see positive net flows in 2008.

Greg McGreevey, an ING alum, took over HIMCo as president last fall after the departure of Dave Znamierowski (see MFWire, 10/6/2008). 

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