Athene Holding has appointed veteran pensions leader Robert Brackenbury to its board as an independent director, effective immediately.

Mr Brackenbury most recently served as deputy chief investment officer of the State of Michigan Retirement System.

During his tenure, his role was to safeguard the retirement benefits of hundreds of thousands of Michigan public employees and retirees and to oversee the investment management of more than $170 billion in pension and state trust fund assets.

Jim Belardi, cofounder, executive chairman, and chief investment officer of Athene said: “Robert's distinguished career managing one of the largest public pension systems in the United States has given him exceptional insight into the elements that make guaranteed income possible.

“His experience managing retirement assets, navigating complex investment environments and serving the long-term interests of retirees will be a valuable addition to Athene's board as we continue developing innovative retirement solutions for individuals and institutions globally.”

Mr Brackenbury said, “Athene has established itself as a leader in retirement services through its commitment to innovation, disciplined risk management and operational excellence. I am honoured to join the board and look forward to supporting the company’s continued growth and mission of helping individuals achieve financial security in retirement.”

Prior to serving as deputy CIO, Mr Brackenbury held several senior leadership positions with the State of Michigan Retirement System. Earlier in his career, he served as a Michigan State Tax Tribunal judge and Assistant Attorney General. Mr Brackenbury also served as a US Army officer, both on active duty and in the US Army Reserve. He serves on investment committees for community foundations in Michigan.

Athene, which has $448 billion of total assets as of March 31, 2026, has substantial operations in Bermuda, known as Athene Annuity Re and Athene Life Re.