Interim Directors Announced for N.C. Retirement Systems' Investment Division

Raleigh, N.C. -- During this morning’s August session of “Ask Me Anything”, State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, announced that Jeff Smith and Christopher Morris have been appointed Interim Directors for the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer’s (NCDST) Investment Management Division (Division) which manages the investments for the North Carolina Retirement Systems. Smith and Morris have been managing day-to-day operations of the Division since the departure of former Chief Investment Officer, Kevin SigRist, in July.

Smith has been with the NCDST for more than 25 years. He currently serves as Director of Fixed Income where he oversees $47 billion in internally managed fixed income assets within the Division.  

Morris has been with the NCDST since 2005. He is Director of Risk Management and Asset Allocation responsible for strategic oversight and direction of the overall risk management program within the Division. In that capacity, he manages assets exceeding $100 billion.

“We are lucky to have Jeff, Chris and the rest of the Investment Division’s staff working to preserve and strengthen the state pension plan,” said Treasurer Folwell. “They both bring decades of experience to the role and have the integrity, ability and passion to continue building value and reducing complexity in our investment portfolio.”

Smith and Morris will assume their new roles immediately. At the same time, they will continue to oversee their respective investment responsibilities.