Keith Bozarth Named SWIB Executive Director

Madison, WI (May 11, 2007) – Keith S. Bozarth has been appointed executive director of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB). He is currently the CEO of the Orange County Employees Retirement System in California. Bozarth has had fifteen years of experience with four public pension systems including the Teachers’ Retirement System of Illinois and both the State Employees’ and Public School Retirement systems in Missouri. His experience includes nine years in a CEO role with oversight of both the investment and benefit functions.

The Board conducted a wide-ranging search which generated a large field of very skilled and experienced applicants from both the public and private sectors.  Trustees engaged the services of executive search firm EFL Associates to conduct the search.  “We were pleased with the quality of the candidates interested in leading SWIB and are particularly happy with the skills and experience that Keith brings to the position”, said Jim Senty, SWIB Board Chair.

“I am very excited at the opportunity to be associated with an organization with such a great national and even international reputation in the world of pension fund investing,” said Keith Bozarth.  He and his family are looking forward to returning to the Midwest.

Bozarth is replacing David Mills who became Executive Director in 2003.  Earlier this year Mills announced his intention to retire upon appointment of a successor, but has agreed to remain available to assist through the transition. Bozarth will begin his duties at SWIB on June 25.

Bozarth holds a bachelor’s degree and a JD degree both from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Assets under management at SWIB are $93 billion. This includes the nearly $87 billion in trust funds of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), which provides benefits to over 533,000 current or former employees of state agencies, the university system, school districts and most local governments. The WRS is the 9th largest US public pension fund and the 24th largest public or private pension fund in the world.