Thomas Franco Joins Virtus Investment Partners As Divisional Sales Manager for Wirehouse Channel

HARTFORD, Conn., April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTS), which operates a multi-manager asset management business, today announced that Thomas Franco has joined the company as managing director and divisional sales manager.

Franco will lead the Western regional sales directors who support the wirehouse channel for Virtus' open- and closed-end mutual funds and separately managed accounts. John McCormack continues to lead regional directors in the Eastern region. Both report to Barry M. Mandinach, executive vice president, head of distribution.

"Tom is an experienced leader who brings a proven track record of building durable relationships with financial advisors and growing the business. He understands the challenges advisors face in providing investment solutions for their clients, and will be instrumental in helping us further distinguish our value proposition among our distribution partners," Mandinach said.

Franco joins Virtus from UBS Global Asset Management, where he was managing director and head of national sales since 2009, responsible for leading the wholesale distribution sales team for the private client and ultra-high-net-worth channels. Prior to becoming head of national sales, he was executive director and national sales manager at UBS for the PACE Select Funds.

He joined UBS in 2001 from Phoenix Investment Partners (PXP), the predecessor to Virtus, where he was a regional sales manager, a position he also held at Zweig Mutual Funds, which was acquired by PXP in 1999.

About Virtus Investment Partners

Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ: VRTS) is a distinctive partnership of boutique investment managers singularly committed to the long-term success of individual and institutional investors. Virtus offers access to a variety of investment styles across multiple disciplines to meet a wide array of investor needs, and provides products and services through affiliated managers and select subadvisers, each with a distinct investment style, autonomous investment process and individual brand. Its affiliates include Cliffwater Investments, Duff & Phelps Investment Management, ETF Issuer Solutions, Euclid Advisors, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, Kleinwort Benson Investors International, Newfleet Asset Management, Newfound Investments, Rampart Investment Management and Zweig Advisers.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121031/NE03346LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thomas-franco-joins-virtus-investment-partners-as-divisional-sales-manager-for-wirehouse-channel-300074432.html

SOURCE Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.