Sammons Financial Group Appoints Sergi Turabelidze as Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer to Lead $135 Billion Investment Portfolio
- Leadership Appointment Signals Continued Investment in Strategic Asset Management
Sammons Financial Group has announced the appointment of Sergi Turabelidze as Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, marking a significant leadership addition aimed at strengthening the firm’s long-term investment strategy and enterprise growth initiatives. Turabelidze officially assumed the role on March 2, 2026, bringing with him decades of experience in asset management, liability-driven investment strategies, and insurance-focused portfolio leadership. In his new role, Turabelidze reports directly to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Esfand Dinshaw and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s investment operations.
This includes managing Sammons Financial Group’s extensive $135 billion investment portfolio, shaping asset allocation frameworks, and guiding overall investment performance strategies designed to support the company’s long-term financial strength and growth ambitions. Turabelidze’s appointment comes at a time when large financial services institutions are placing increasing emphasis on sophisticated investment management capabilities to navigate complex global markets, interest rate cycles, and evolving regulatory environments.
As chief investment officer, he will play a pivotal role in ensuring that Sammons Financial Group continues to effectively manage risk while pursuing sustainable investment returns that support its insurance and financial services businesses.
His responsibilities will include advancing the firm’s investment strategy, optimizing portfolio diversification, and aligning asset management activities with the broader corporate strategy of the organization. Additionally, Turabelidze joins the company’s Senior Staff, Sammons Financial Group’s executive leadership team, where he will contribute to shaping strategic decisions across the enterprise. Membership in this group places him at the center of the organization’s leadership structure and underscores the importance of investment management within the firm’s overall operational framework.
The addition of Turabelidze to the leadership team highlights Sammons Financial Group’s commitment to strengthening its internal investment capabilities while continuing to pursue opportunities in global financial markets.
As the insurance and retirement services industries evolve, companies like Sammons Financial Group are increasingly relying on strong internal asset management expertise to support product innovation, manage long-duration liabilities, and deliver value to policyholders and clients. By appointing an experienced investment executive to lead this function, the company signals its intention to further expand and refine its investment operations in support of long-term enterprise growth.
CEO Esfand Dinshaw Highlights Turabelidze’s Leadership and Investment Expertise
In announcing the appointment, CEO Esfand Dinshaw expressed strong confidence in Turabelidze’s leadership abilities and his track record of building high-performing investment teams within complex financial institutions. Dinshaw emphasized that Turabelidze’s collaborative leadership style and extensive experience managing liability-driven investment strategies make him an ideal choice to guide Sammons Financial Group’s investment operations into the future.
According to Dinshaw, Turabelidze has consistently demonstrated the ability to design sophisticated investment frameworks that align asset management decisions with long-term liabilities—an especially critical skill within the insurance industry where investment portfolios must be carefully structured to support policyholder obligations over extended time horizons.
Dinshaw also highlighted Turabelidze’s reputation for fostering strong teamwork and cultivating high-performing investment organizations, qualities that will be valuable as Sammons Financial Group continues to expand its internal asset management capabilities. Dinshaw noted that the company remains deeply committed to strengthening its in-house investment management team and sees Turabelidze’s leadership as a key element of that strategy.
As global financial markets grow increasingly complex, financial institutions must maintain advanced internal expertise to manage diversified portfolios effectively. Under Turabelidze’s leadership, Sammons Financial Group plans to further develop its internal investment management capabilities while continuing to collaborate with leading asset managers worldwide.
Dinshaw welcomed Turabelidze to the organization and expressed enthusiasm about working closely with him to advance the company’s investment strategy and corporate objectives. He also emphasized that the appointment reflects the company’s broader commitment to long-term strategic growth and disciplined financial management. By strengthening its investment leadership, Sammons Financial Group aims to enhance its ability to deliver stable returns while maintaining the financial strength that policyholders and clients rely on.
The CEO’s comments reflect the broader industry trend toward integrating investment leadership into core corporate decision-making processes. As financial institutions navigate volatile markets and shifting economic conditions, chief investment officers increasingly play a central role in guiding enterprise strategy, risk management, and capital deployment decisions. Turabelidze’s inclusion in the company’s Senior Staff demonstrates that Sammons Financial Group recognizes the strategic importance of investment management in achieving its long-term goals.
Turabelidze Outlines Vision for Strengthening Investment Capabilities and Global Partnerships
Following the announcement of his appointment, Turabelidze expressed enthusiasm about joining Sammons Financial Group and working alongside its leadership team to further develop the organization’s investment capabilities. He emphasized that the company already possesses a strong foundation in asset management and that his focus will be on building upon that foundation to drive future growth and innovation. Turabelidze noted that he is excited to collaborate with the talented professionals across Sammons Financial Group and contribute to the firm’s continued success.
According to Turabelidze, one of his priorities will be to enhance the organization’s internal investment capabilities while leveraging its open architecture asset management platform. This approach enables Sammons Financial Group to combine in-house expertise with partnerships involving best-in-class asset managers from around the world.
By maintaining an open architecture investment model, the company can access specialized expertise across a wide range of asset classes while ensuring that its internal team remains closely involved in portfolio construction and risk management. Turabelidze explained that this strategy allows Sammons Financial Group to deliver exceptional value to clients and policyholders by blending internal investment insights with external market expertise. He emphasized that maintaining strong relationships with global asset managers will continue to be an important element of the company’s investment strategy.
At the same time, he plans to strengthen the firm’s internal capabilities to ensure that Sammons Financial Group remains well positioned to evaluate opportunities across public and private markets. The insurance and retirement services sectors rely heavily on carefully structured investment portfolios to generate stable long-term returns while supporting policyholder obligations. Turabelidze’s experience in liability-driven investment strategies positions him well to guide Sammons Financial Group as it continues to manage a diverse portfolio across multiple asset classes.
By aligning investment decisions with the company’s long-term liabilities, he aims to help ensure that the organization maintains both financial stability and growth potential. Turabelidze also emphasized the importance of innovation within the investment management process. As financial markets evolve and new asset classes emerge, investment leaders must continually adapt their strategies to capture opportunities while maintaining prudent risk management. Through a combination of internal expertise, global partnerships, and disciplined portfolio management, Turabelidze believes Sammons Financial Group can continue to deliver strong investment performance and long-term value for its stakeholders.
Extensive Investment Leadership Experience Across Global Financial Institutions
Turabelidze joins Sammons Financial Group with an impressive background in investment management and financial services leadership, having held senior roles at several prominent institutions throughout his career. Prior to joining Sammons Financial Group, he served as Managing Director at Sixth Street Partners, where he was a senior leader within the firm’s Insurance team. In that role, Turabelidze worked closely with insurance companies to develop investment strategies tailored to the unique requirements of the sector. His work at Sixth Street involved managing complex portfolios and collaborating with institutional investors to structure innovative investment solutions designed to optimize long-term returns while maintaining disciplined risk management.
Before joining Sixth Street Partners, Turabelidze served as Chief Investment Officer and a member of the founding executive leadership team at Soteria Re. As part of the leadership team that helped establish the organization, Turabelidze played a critical role in building the company’s investment strategy and overseeing the management of its investment portfolio. His experience at Soteria Re provided him with deep insights into the intersection of insurance liabilities and investment portfolio construction, further strengthening his expertise in liability-driven investment management.
Earlier in his career, Turabelidze held the position of Head of Investment Strategy at Reinsurance Group of America, commonly known as RGA. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing asset-liability management, developing asset allocation frameworks, and building innovative investment capabilities designed to support the company’s global operations. His work at RGA involved managing large institutional portfolios and designing strategies that balanced growth objectives with long-term liability commitments. Turabelidze’s career also includes senior roles at major financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs and NISA Investment Advisors.
At these organizations, he gained extensive experience in investment strategy, portfolio management, and institutional asset allocation. These roles provided him with exposure to a wide range of financial markets and investment strategies, further expanding his expertise in managing complex portfolios for institutional clients. In addition to his professional achievements, Turabelidze holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis, where he developed the academic foundation that would support his career in finance and investment management. His combination of academic training and real-world experience has positioned him as a respected leader within the asset management and insurance investment communities.
With Turabelidze now leading the investment organization, Sammons Financial Group is expected to continue strengthening its investment strategy and expanding its internal asset management capabilities. His extensive experience across alternative asset management, insurance investment strategy, and institutional portfolio management provides a strong foundation for guiding the company’s $135 billion investment portfolio through an increasingly complex global financial landscape.
As the financial services industry continues to evolve, Sammons Financial Group’s decision to appoint a seasoned investment executive underscores its commitment to disciplined portfolio management, strategic growth, and long-term value creation for policyholders and stakeholders alike.
About Sammons® Financial Group, Inc.
The companies of Sammons Financial Group® help families and businesses by empowering futures and changing lives. Sammons Financial Group is employee-owned with member companies that are among the most enduring and stable in the financial services industry. Sammons Financial Group is Midwest-based, with offices in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Virginia.
