Press Release

Ascensus Names Jeri Hawthorne Chief Human Resources Officer

Issued by Ascensus

Aug. 21, 2025

Ascensus announced that career HR executive Jeri Hawthorne has joined the company as its Chief Human Resources Officer. She will report to Ascensus Chair and CEO David Musto and be based at the company’s Dresher, PA, headquarters.

“We are delighted to welcome Jeri Hawthorne to Ascensus at a time of significant transformation in our industry and across our company,” said Musto. “Her experience and perspective from leading organizations with a like commitment to client and employee experience excellence will be enormously valuable as we evolve the scale, solutions, and culture of our own business.” 

Hawthorne comes to Ascensus from Aflac, where she most recently served as Chief Human Resources Officer . Prior to that she was Head of Human Resources for Campbell and Company, a privately held quantitative hedge fund. Prior to Campbell, she served as Head of Talent and Leadership Development at Exelon, the largest energy parent company in the U.S., and led teams of business partners for Exelon’s competitive energy business, Constellation.

Earlier in her career, Hawthorne held senior HR roles at T. Rowe Price and the U.S. Pharmacopeia. She also worked in international human resources at Novo Nordisk A/S while an expatriate in Denmark.  

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wheeling Jesuit University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Bath, UK. 

She succeeds Amy Walker, who will remain with the company until mid-September to support the leadership transition. 

 About Ascensus

Ascensus is a market-leading enabler of tax-advantaged savings—providing technology, services, and expertise that help more than 15 million people save for a better today and tomorrow.

The company is a premier savings program service provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator. Its platforms, industry knowledge, and data-based insights enhance the growth and success of its partners, their clients, and savers through co-branded, private-labeled, and governmental partnerships.

Ascensus offers comprehensive qualified and nonqualified retirement plan solutions, third-party retirement plan administration, 529 education and ABLE savings program administration, corporate- and bank-owned life insurance solutions, and fiduciary and total rewards services.

The company’s brands include Ascensus; Newport, an Ascensus company; and FuturePlan by Ascensus. Ascensus has more than $892 billion in assets under administration and employs more than 5,000 associates as of June 30, 2025.

For more information, visit ascensus.com and ascensus.com/newport.

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