Steven P. Sorenson has landed at Gartmore Funds to direct the activities of its external wholesalers and help build relationships with financial consultants. He replaces interim manager Jerry Winchester, who will now devote his time to developing and maintaining the firm's key account relationships. Sorenson was most recently at Lincoln Financial Distributors where he was senior vice president and national sales manager.

A spokesperson for Delaware Investments said that Sorenson left from Lincoln Financial Distributors in 2001 and his duties were taken over by Meg Skinner. Sorenson was hired at Delaware Investments more than three years ago and left as the firm reorganized its sales force into Lincoln Financial Distributors.

Sorenson's hiring comes as the fund unit of Nationwide Life is building out its wholesale distribution team. The firm has announced four regional sales director hires in the past two months. Each of the new wholesalers joined the firm from the Conseco Fund Group. A spokesperson for the firm was unable to comment on whether Gartmore is continuing to add to its wholesaler force.

Werner William (Bill) Stubblefield joined Gartmore as vice president and regional sales director covering the Central Region, which includes Southern Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Southern Missouri, and Louisiana. Stubblefield was regional sales director for Conseco, covering the same territory he handles in his new position

Damon Bryant will cover the Midwest South Region of Nebraska, Northern Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. He was the regional marketing manager for the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest at Conseco, and the regional sales director for CFG's Southern region.

Grant Hayes cover the West Coast North Region of Washington, Oregon and Northern and Central California. He was a regional manager at Conseco and a product specialist for the Conseco Balanced Fund.

Scott Clark will cover the fund family's South Region of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. He was Conseco's Merrill Lynch firm specialist and the product specialist for the Conseco Large-Cap Fund.

Meanwhile, Sorenson takes the title of senior vice president and national sales director at Gartmore and reports to Jim Donatell, executive vice president of product, marketing and sales for Gartmore Global Investments, investment adviser to Gartmore Funds.

"Steve brings to us a solid 22-year track record of mutual fund sales and sales management," said Donatell. He added that as a former financial consultant, Sorenson "brings a focus on service to investment professionals and their clients that will help our wholesalers build high-value-added relationships."

Sorenson was also the national sales director of the financial planning channel and director of the fee-based group for Chicago-based Morgan Stanley/Van Kampen from 1997 to 1999. Prior to that, he was with Nomura Securities International, from 1996 to 1997, as director of U.S. marketing and sales. From 1988 to 1996, Sorenson served as regional director for Neuberger & Berman. 

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