FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – The Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) has selected Ryan Barrow as its next executive director, pending successful contract negotiations, to replace David Egar, who will retire at the end of June.
Barrow is currently the executive director of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) in the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet’s Office of the Controller. Egar has headed the state’s public pension system since September 2016.
Last October, the KPPA began a national search for a new leader, led by a search committee comprising four members of the KPPA board. KPPA received 48 applications. That was narrowed to eight candidates who were interviewed. Three finalists were interviewed a second time, and Barrow was a unanimous choice.
In his role at OFM, Barrow oversees bond financing for the Commonwealth, managing a multibillion-dollar debt portfolio and $3 billion to $4 billion in invested state cash. He has more than 20 years of experience in finance, credit, investment, pensions, operations, and project management with a range of organizations.
During Eager’s tenure as executive director, he has led efforts to work with the General Assembly and the Governor’s office to stabilize funding for the retirement systems. He also oversaw the organization’s transition from the former Kentucky Retirement Systems to the current KPPA structure. He was originally appointed to the KRS board by former Gov. Matt Bevin in 2016. He stepped down from the board to become interim executive director. He was named executive director in April 2018.
Prior to joining then-KRS, Mr. Eager had a long history working in the investment industry consulting to investment management firms and large pension funds, most recently with Eager, Davis and Holmes.
“It has been my pleasure to be a part of KPPA during a period of greatly improved funding for the 10 funds it administers and work with such a talented group of employees,” Eager said.