Empower Appoints Vanessa Welch As Vice President

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Empower announced today that eight-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Vanessa Welch is joining the company as Vice President for Financial Insights.

In this newly created role, Welch will work in close collaboration with Empower business teams to help stakeholders understand the meaning and implications of financial concepts and how individuals can take action to improve their own financial security.

“Empower serves the needs of a broad spectrum of investors who engage with money in many different ways. They have different levels of knowledge and a variety of needs,” said Edmund F. Murphy, III, President and Chief Executive Officer for Empower. “Vanessa has all the tools and expertise to help Empower serve as a beacon of clarity and a source of insights to help more people achieve a better understanding of the financial services they need and want.”

With more than 20 years of experience as a broadcaster, Welch comes to Empower from WFXT Boston 25 News, where she served as co-anchor of the station’s evening newscasts for nine years. Prior to her most recent role, Welch’s storied broadcast career took her through media markets in Florida, Texas, and North Carolina as a reporter and anchor. Welch has won eight Emmy Awards for her anchoring and reporting. Her coverage has encompassed national and local stories, breaking news, and features. Vanessa’s past coverage has included topics ranging from personal finance and market events to macroeconomics issues.

Welch joined Empower on June 3 and will report to Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs Stephen Gawlik.

“A skilled journalist and interviewer, Vanessa will help Empower subject matter experts break down and explain otherwise complex investing and savings concepts in order to help drive new understanding among consumers,” said Gawlik. “She has honed her ability to deliver insights to consumers of news every day for more than two decades — that experience will be a great benefit to Empower customers who need and want financial insights.”

“It is refreshing to join the Empower team, where there’s a deep-seated commitment to the customer,” said Welch, a graduate of the University of Georgia. “I believe that in partnership with Empower’s team of professionals, together we can help drive better greater financial literacy and ultimately help people on their path to achieving their financial goals.”

In addition to her professional work, Welch has been active in community service in Boston, devoted to such causes as Boston Partners in Education and Veterans Inc. as well as the American Red Cross of Massachusetts, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Greater New England Chapter of JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. She also serves with the Target Cancer Foundation and BUILD Greater Boston, a youth entrepreneurship program serving under-resourced communities.

ABOUT EMPOWER

Recognized as the second-largest retirement services provider in the U.S.1 by total participants, Empower administers approximately $1.5 trillion in assets for more than 18.5 million investors2 through the provision of retirement plans, advice, wealth management and investments. Connect with us on empower.com, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.

1 Pensions & Investments DC Recordkeeper Survey (2023). Ranking measured by total number of participants as of September 2022.

2 As of March 31, 2024. Assets under administration (AUA) refers to the assets administered by Empower. AUA does not reflect the financial stability or strength of a company.

Empower refers to the products and services offered by Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide investment, legal, or tax recommendations or advice.