SBA gets new chief: Ash Williams

The governor and Cabinet Tuesday hired a new state pension fund manager: Ash Williams, a Wall Street fund manager who held the Florida post more than two decades ago.

Wiliams, 53, of Wilton, Conn., worked in state government in the 1970s and 1980s and said he's eager to return home to Tallahassee. He will manage more than $160-billion in investments, including the pensions of thousands of retired state workers. He succeeds Coleman Stipanovich, who resigned late last year in the wake of a raid on a local governmemt investment pool that contained restructured and downgraded securities, prompting a massive series of withdrawals by cities, counties and others.

As executive director of the state Board of Administration, Williams will earn $325,000 a year, making him among the best-paid members of the state work force. Former Comptroller Bob Milligan, the acting SBA director, negotiated Williams' pay package.

--Steve Bousquet, Tallahassee bureau chief

Comments

Should have been Cliff Hinkle.

Nice state coin for someone who has been removed from the pension process for 20 years.

When i decide to retire, i hope someone in Tallahassee has a $325,000 a year job for me!

That is one hefty average final booster for his retirement...

I wonder how many SB owners make $325,000 a year?

hmmmmmmm

Milligan manipulated the process. What a sham.

glad i'm on investment plan - doesn't matter who they hire for SBA, i control my money and future

Charlie hired another Democrat. So what else is new?

ash williams? lets see: ties to gerald lewis who left office in disgrace after being owned by the banks he was supposed to be regulating. ash williams, who left florida 12 years ago to cash-in (or cash-out) with the private sector -- now coming back? really? i see no problem in paying a competent manager that salary, but we did a nation-wide search and came up with ash williams, a guy who left florida 12 years ago. we could do so much better! doesn't integrity count any more? i hear that he was being pushed by alex sink because of his ties to her big $upporter$ -- no! really!

It was a great loss to the state when Ash left over 20 years ago - it will be great to have him back. He has a great mind and I'm sure he has learned a lot in the 20 years he has been away. Speaking as someone nearing retirement, I'm glad to see that the SBA is back in capable hands.