CalPERS CIO Joe Dear Taking Leave for Recovery

The CIO of the largest public pension fund in the US will be undergoing treatment for cancer.

(January 9, 2014) — Joe Dear, CIO of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), is taking temporary leave effective immediately due to health reasons, aiCIO has learned.

The decision was made after much discussion with CEO Anne Stausboll and investment committee Chair Henry Jones, according to the fund.

Ted Eliopoulos, senior investment officer for real assets unit, will be serving as acting CIO as Dear continues his treatment.

“As he has been, Joe will continue to participate periodically in meetings and calls so that he can provide his expertise on important issues,” sad Rob Feckner, board president of the $277 billion fund.

Dear has served as CIO of the largest public pension fund in the United States since 2009. 

Prior to this role, he was the executive director for the Washington State Investment Board, chief of staff for Washington State Governor Gary Locke, and served as assistant secretary of labor at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Clinton Administration. He received a B.A. in political economy from The Evergreen State College.

The entire aiCIO staff wishes Mr. Dear all the best for a full and swift recovery. 

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