Axa exec replacing Casady as chairman of VA trade group

The Insured Retirement Institute last week chose James A. Shepherdson, executive vice president of Axa Equitable, as the group's chairman. IRI, the trade group of the variable annuity industry, announced his appointment at its 2009 annual conference in Boston. The association was formerly known as NAVA Inc. Mr. Shepherdson will replace Mark Casady, chairman and chief executive of LPL Financial. Mr. Casady will remain on the institute's board until he finishes his three-year tenure next year. The group also has added Terry Mullen, president of Sun Life Financial Distributors, to its board. He will serve three years. Michael Gilotti, who leads business development for life companies at General Re-New England Asset Management Inc., and George Riedel, vice president at T. Rowe Price Group Inc., are both leaving the board. E-mail Darla Mercado at dmercado@investmentnews.com.