Commonwealth Eyes Future Growth with Key Additions to Technology, Information Security Leadership Teams

With key hires for the new year, firm doubles down on cloud strategy and data asset protection

WALTHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Commonwealth Financial Network^®, a national firm dedicated to providing advisor-focused business solutions, announced the recent addition of Mukund Ravipaty, chief information security officer, and Garreth Speer, vice president, IT infrastructure. Both positions will be instrumental in broadening Commonwealth’s cloud technology strategy and enhancing its security posture as the firm looks to augment its current advisor-facing infrastructure and accelerate its innovation in 2021.

“Enhancing our infrastructure as we grow and evolve and reinforcing a comprehensive enterprise information security program are two critical elements of our IT strategy,” said Miriam Manning, chief information officer at Commonwealth. “Mukund and Garreth’s breadth and depth of experience will allow us to continue to enhance our current advisor-facing technology solutions, as well as enable future innovation.”

Ravipaty will be responsible for building upon and maintaining a corporate information security management program to ensure that data assets are protected. In his role, he will work directly with Commonwealth business units to facilitate security risk assessments and management processes while developing and enhancing an information security management framework. Before joining Commonwealth, Ravipaty worked at National Grid as the senior director, head of cyber product, and director, global head of security services, design, and architecture. He earned his MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, Certified Information Security Manager, Certified BS7799 Lead Auditor, and SABSA Chartered Security Architect.

“Joining Commonwealth during a dynamic phase of our company’s growth is energizing,” said Ravipaty. “Commonwealth’s commitment to an information security program that is comprehensive, enterprise wide, and cross functional, along with a positive, people-centric culture, is exactly where I want to be. I’m excited to be a part of building the future here.”

In his role, Speer will be tasked with continuing to migrate Commonwealth’s applications and infrastructure to cloud technology, as well as overseeing cloud infrastructure and managed service providers. Before joining Commonwealth, Speer was senior director of infrastructure and operations at Parsley Energy and director of infrastructure and operations at TETRA Technologies. He also brings experience working as a vice president in information technology, operations, and infrastructure development. Speer holds certifications as a Project Management Professional, Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert, MCITP Enterprise Administrator, and a VMware Certified Professional.

“Advisors and their clients expect bleeding-edge technology that is nimble and responsive to their needs; I’m thrilled to be a part of honoring that mission,” said Speer. “I’m looking forward to hearing from our community of advisors, their staff, and their clients so we can continue to offer technology that makes sense for the way advisors run their business today and in the future.”

Ravipaty and Speer will report to Manning, who oversees Commonwealth’s Technology team.

About Commonwealth Financial Network^®

Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser, provides a suite of business solutions that empowers more than 2,000 independent financial advisors nationwide. J.D. Power ranks Commonwealth “#1 in Independent Advisor Satisfaction Among Financial Investment Firms, Seven Times in a Row.” Privately held since 1979, the firm has headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, and San Diego, California. Learn more about Commonwealth by visiting www.commonwealth.com.

Commonwealth received the highest score in the independent advisor segment of the J.D. Power 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2020 Financial Advisor Satisfaction Studies of customers’ satisfaction among financial advisors. Visit jdpower.com/awards.

Contacts

Kristin Albano
Marketing Communications Manager
781.209.4396
kalbano@commonwealth.com
Commonwealth Financial Network

www.commonwealth.com