Merrill Changes Leadership

Amanda Cheesley

18 July 2022

Merrill has announced a series of leadership changes, appointing Jeff Markham as vice chair of Merrill Wealth Management in Texas.

In this newly-created role, Markham will work with advisors and field leaders to strengthen client relationships and provide additional senior executive support where needed, the firm said in a statement late last week. He will also lead its community markets strategy. Most recently, Markham was division executive for the West Division, a position he had held since 2017, the New York-based firm added.

He began his career at Merrill Lynch in 1987 as a financial advisor in Fort Worth, Texas. During his career, Markham has served in numerous leadership roles across the region and will be returning to Texas, one of the firm’s key growth markets, where he has strong roots.

Merrill’s current West Division will also become two divisions: Pacific Coast and Mountain Pacific. Eric Schimpf will lead the Pacific Coast Division, the firm said, encompassing its markets located in California, Nevada and Hawaii.

Schimpf joined Merrill Lynch in 1994 as a financial advisor in Palo Alto, California. Prior to his current role leading the Advisor Division, Schimpf was the division executive for the Southeast Division, based in Nevada, Merrill said.

In addition, Anthony DiBlasi will lead the Mountain Pacific Division, comprising the firm’s markets stretching from the Pacific Northwest to the Mountain States to Minnesota. He will be based in Arizona. DiBlasi currently serves as the senior market executive of the West LA market, Merrill stressed.

Previously, DiBlasi was the market executive for Greater Los Angeles, Evergreen and Nevada markets. He has been with Merrill for over 24 years, serving as financial advisor for the first 10 years.

Deborah Shepherd, who will lead the Texas South Division, will be based in Dallas. She joined Merrill Lynch in 1990 as a financial consultant in Shreveport, Louisiana. Most recently, she was the senior market executive for the Charlotte market and prior to that market executive of the Short Hills market.

Kenneth Correa, the firm's national business development executive, will also lead its advisor recruiting efforts, in addition to his current areas of responsibility, Merrill added. Meanwhile, Texas Mountain South Division executive Carole Wentz is retiring after 27 years with the firm.