Short Takes: Salomon Exec to Lead Brokerage at Putnam

Putnam Investments has chosen a Salomon Smith Barney executive to run its brokerage channel.

Joseph D. Kringdon joined the Boston-based company last week as a senior vice president. He reports to William Connolly, managing director and national sales manager.

The newly created position is the latest of several changes at the fund company.

Richard Monaghan, previously a Merrill Lynch & Co. executive, was named in November to head Putnam's mutual fund distribution business. He succeeded William Shiebler, who is phasing into retirement.

Mr. Connolly, who was also hired from Merrill, joined Putnam early this month as its new national retail sales manager overseeing sales through a range of third-party channels.

He succeeded Vincent Esposito, who now heads retail client relationship management. Mr. Kringdon's position was created in part to handle some of the tasks Mr. Esposito was responsible for, a Putnam spokesman said.

Putnam sells 33% of its retail funds through brokerages, 28% through banks, and the balance through financial planners. It has $300 billion of assets under management and is the largest fund seller through banks, with $8.5 billion in sales last year.

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