Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) –New Mexico has a new chief investment officer and she’s returning home to New Mexico. The New Mexico State Investment Council reports that Kristin Varela, a Pecos High School graduate with nearly two decades of experience in financial markets and public pension asset management was named CIO today (TUE). Varela previously served as chief investment officer of Hawaii’s Employees’ Retirement System, and is among the youngest and one of the few Latina chief investment officers currently serving in the U.S. public pension system. Varela will oversee all aspects of the State Investment Council’s Investment activities. She succeeds Robert Vince Smith who stepped down in September.
