Former Minn. State GOP Official Named Roundtable's No. 2

WASHINGTON — The Financial Services Roundtable is promoting a former political organizer from chief executive Tim Pawlenty's home state to serve as the trade association's No. 2.

Eric Hoplin, now the Roundtable's vice president of communications and organizational strategy, will become the trade group's executive director starting Jan. 1. He came to the association from Booz Allen Hamilton and was also a former deputy chairman of the Republican Party in Minnesota, where Pawlenty was governor from 2003 to 2011. Hoplin at one time was president of the College Republican National Committee.

"Eric's exceptional leadership and management skills make him the right person to help me lead FSR as one of the most dynamic organizations in Washington," Pawlenty said in a press release. "Eric's business and public policy experience will be key as we advocate for issues important to the financial services industry, the economy and consumers. Eric has already made a positive impact at FSR and I look forward to the road ahead."

Hoplin was a lead associate at Booz Allen Hamilton. He is succeeding Richard Whiting, who spent 30 years with the trade association in the Roundtable's executive director position. Whiting, who also serves as the group's general counsel, announced last month that he plans to retire from the organization in February.

The group has not yet named a new general counsel.