Leadership Team

Aaron Abrahms

Principal
aabrahms@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8041

Aaron Abrahms joined Winged Keel Group in 2003 and is a Principal of the firm.  He works with clients on the development of large block life insurance portfolios and on the various applications of Private Placement products.  His clients routinely utilize traditional life insurance products to finance estate taxes and/or use Private Placement Life Insurance and Annuities to shield investment returns from current period taxation.

Aaron works with families throughout the U.S. and is the co-head of Winged Keel Group’s San Francisco office.  He has taken a leadership role with a number of Winged Keel Group’s key institutional and Family Office relationships.  He is a member of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) and has been a featured speaker at insurance industry and Family Office events.

Aaron earned his MBA in Finance with Distinction from Columbia Business School.  He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania and was an Academic All-American in Ski Racing.

An active parent of three with his wife, Ali, Aaron enjoys golf, skiing, and travel with his family and in his free time.

Rohit Dalmia

Principal
rdalmia@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8085

Rohit Dalmia is a Principal of Winged Keel Group.  He joined the firm in 2003 as a Finance Associate, and held numerous positions in Case Design before being promoted to Managing Director in 2014 and Principal in 2016.  Rohit is responsible for supervising Winged Keel’s Case Design, Underwriting, and Client Services teams, and oversees the technical training of all new analysts and associates.

Prior to joining Winged Keel Group, Rohit worked in technology services where he collaborated with clients and programmers to build marketing campaigns and e-commerce solutions.

Rohit holds a BA in Financial Economics from Bethany College, and a BBA from Sardar Patel University in India.  At Bethany, he was a member of the college’s swim team.

A resident of New Jersey with an appreciation for travel, Rohit frequently crosses the globe to visit family and friends.  He enjoys cooking Indian food and exploring the Ramen scene in New York City. 

Marko Djuranovic

Principal
mdjuranovic@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8017

Marko Djuranovic is a Principal of Winged Keel Group.  He joined the firm as an Associate in 2008, and was promoted to Director of Product Development before becoming a Principal in 2016.  Marko works closely with the firm’s clients and the advisor community.  He applies his strong technical skills to the structuring, implementation, and service of traditional life insurance portfolios for estate planning purposes and Private Placement Life Insurance and Annuities for increasing the tax efficiency of clients’ investment portfolios.

Marko holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Columbia University.  He is a CFA® charterholder and holds FINRA Series 6 and 63 securities licenses.  He received his BA from Duke University where he was a staff writer and columnist for a local newspaper. 

Residing in Old Greenwich with his wife and two children, he enjoys tennis, golf, skiing, and cooking in his spare time.

Campbell T. Gerrish

Principal
cgerrish@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8010

A recognized leader in the insurance industry, Campbell co-founded Winged Keel Group—one of the leading independent life insurance brokerage firms in the U.S.—in 1989. While continuing to cultivate the client advisor relationships he has developed for more than four decades, Campbell dedicates significant time to mentoring future leaders who will take Winged Keel Group through to its next level of multigenerational partnership. Driving strategic alignment with Winged Keel Group’s core values, Campbell also serves a vital role in leading philanthropic efforts within the firm.

After joining the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) Board of Directors in 1995, and becoming a member of the Executive Committee in 1998, Campbell served as President of the AALU in 2001. During his tenure as President, Campbell spearheaded AALU’s creation of the AALU Issues Alliance, an invaluable partnership between AALU and the industry’s leading organizations that, today, continues to address key legislative and regulatory issues impacting advanced life insurance planning. In 2016, the AALU presented Campbell with the Gerald H. Sherman Service Award, recognizing him for his accomplishments and contributions in helping AALU fulfill its mission to promote, protect, and preserve the life insurance industry.

Campbell is an active participant in the development of The M Center of Excellence at The American College, focused on facilitating longer, healthier lives, lived well. He spoke at the Summit on Business and Future of Aging at the 20th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference, and has also been a featured speaker at industry conferences and annual meetings of the AALU, the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), the Top of the Table, the International Forum, and the Practising Law Institute's Annual Estate Planning Institute. He has also authored articles that have appeared in Strategic Consulting magazine, Executive Compensation and Benefits, and was the subject of a feature article in Advisor Today.

A 1973 graduate of Princeton University, Campbell is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and holds a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS).

Campbell is married with three children and lives in Rye, New York. With a deep appreciation for his local community, Campbell is proud to support is an active supporter of New York charitable organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cristo Rey New York High School. In the past, he has served on the boards of The Partnership for a Drug Free America and The Breast Cancer Alliance.

Eric Naison-Phillips

Principal
enaison-phillips@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8081

Eric Naison-Phillips is a Principal of Winged Keel Group.  He joined the firm as a Client Relationship Associate in 2003, advancing into the role of Director of Portfolio Design before becoming a Principal in 2009.  Actively focused on structuring, implementing, and servicing life insurance portfolios designed to meet the unique needs of ultra-affluent families, Eric also serves as a member of Winged Keel Group’s Executive Management Committee.

Eric has served as a member of M Financial Group’s Product Management Advisory committee and, in 2013, as the Conference Chairman of the 11^th Annual Private Placement Life Insurance & Variable Annuities Forum, where he presented on the topic of Offshore Opportunities in the PPLI and PPVA Market.  In 2014, he co-authored an article on the charitable applications of a Private Placement Variable Annuity Investment Account, published by Financial Advisor magazine. 

A strong advocate of both the needs of his clients and the needs of his community, Eric contributes energy and efforts to causes that engage, educate, and motivate opportunities for growth.  In 2006, he partnered with friends to found the Bulldogs Care Foundation (BCF), created to support young men and women as they pursue personal development through programs in athletics, education, and mentoring.  He is also a member of the PASE (Partnership for After School Education) Young Professionals Committee, where he is working to build a network of young professionals interested in supporting after-school education, and The Yale University Club Committee, which awards grants to Yale students from low-income families.

A graduate of Yale University with a BA in American Studies, Eric was a pitcher and four-year letter winner for the Yale baseball team.  He is a member of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU), and holds FINRA Series 3, 6, and 63 securities licenses.

Eric lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife Laura, who is a member of the Paul Taylor Dance Company.  Along with supporting the performing arts with his wife, Eric enjoys yoga, golf, and squash in his free time.

Matthew H. Phillips

Principal
mphillips@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8030

Matt is a Principal of Winged Keel Group.  His work includes helping clients review their existing life insurance and comparing it to current market pricing, and facilitating the acquisition of new coverage that may be needed.  Matt is skilled at educating clients and their advisors on the economics and risks associated with various types of life insurance products, and guiding them through the decision-making process to construct a portfolio that is tailored to their particular estate plan.

Matt also works closely with other insurance brokers and with investment managers who want to introduce Private Placement Life Insurance and Annuity products to their clients.

Matt joined Winged Keel Group in 1997 and became a Principal in 2003.  During his career, he has had responsibility for managing Winged Keel’s Private Client Group comprised of the firm’s Portfolio Design, Underwriting and Client Administration teams.  He has been a featured speaker at both the M Financial Group and Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) national meetings on estate planning uses of life insurance, income tax-efficient investing using Private Placement Life Insurance and Annuities, and growing a multi-generational professional services firm geared toward serving an ultra-affluent client base.

Matt graduated from Bard College and remains an active member of their alumni.  He is originally from Larchmont, New York and now lives in New Rochelle with his wife, Jo, and two children, Anabelle and Evan.  He enjoys playing golf, ice hockey, and running.

Alexander Tuff

Principal
atuff@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8008

Alex joined Winged Keel Group as the COO and Head of Strategy in 2013 and was named Principal in 2015. He has more than 18 years of executive experience in the financial services industry across lean six-sigma transformations, strategic planning, information systems, senior management alignment, capital raising, and financial restructurings. In addition to overseeing and managing all business functions and employees, Alex serves as a member of Winged Keel Group's Executive Management Committee.

Prior to joining Winged Keel Group, Alex served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for a 550-person corporate function at CIT Group. Prior to CIT, he was a Portfolio Manager at a Credit Opportunities Fund where he launched and managed a CLO platform and a senior secured loan asset strategy.

Alex is a member of the Fairchester Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). As a member of Stamford Hospital's Board of Directors, he has served on both the Finance and Strategy Committees, and currently serves on the Foundation Board of Stamford Hospital, focusing energy on fundraising for a new regional hospital. Additionally, he is the founder and chair of an endowed scholarship for the benefit of high school students that have lost one or both parents. Alex promotes the ongoing dialogue of leadership topics as a contributor to the alumni magazine of Columbia Business School and LinkedIn's Pulse.  Alex has also been a featured lecturer at Brown University on Leadership and Management topics.

Alex earned an MBA in Finance with Distinction from Columbia Business School and a BA in Economics from Colby College. Alex and his wife, Liz, reside in New Canaan, Connecticut, with their three children. He is an avid skier, plays competitive paddle tennis, and coaches youth soccer.

Frank Chun

Director
fchun@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8026

Mischa Edwards

Director
medwards@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8056

Brian Gartner

Director, San Francisco Office
bgartner@wingedkeel.com
415.659.1553

Vikash Haritwal

Director
vharitwal@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8075

Nicole Harrington

Director
nharrington@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8066

Since joining Winged Keel Group in 2000, Nicole has managed all aspects of Human Resources, Recruiting, Employee Relations, Performance Management, Training Programs, and Event Planning.  In her current role as Director of Talent Acquisition & Development, Winged Keel Group continues to draw on her expertise in attracting and retaining highly talented individuals whose skill and aptitude are aligned with the firm’s business goals and whom can consistently perform at a high level.

Nicole holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Florida International University, and a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Barry University.  She is also trained and certified as a Co-Active Executive Coach from the renowned Coaches Training Institute. 

Nicole enjoys cooking, practicing yoga, hiking, and traveling.  She also volunteers her time to Habitat for Humanity and Our House Grief Support Center.

John Kessinger

Director
jkessinger@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8052

Chelsea Maeda

Senior Associate
cmaeda@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8055

Chelsea joined Winged Keel Group as a Design analyst in 2008 and has been responsible for the financial modeling and administration of some of the firm's largest and most complex client insurance portfolios.  In March 2012, Chelsea moved into her current role as a Client Relationship Associate in the Private Client Group.  Alongside Winged Keel Group’s Principals, she works with clients in the design and administration of life insurance portfolios for wealth transfer and income tax planning purposes.

Chelsea is a graduate of Columbia University with a BA in Statistics.  At Columbia, Chelsea was a double bassist with the Bach Society and the NYC lead coordinator for the Small Miracles Foundation, an organization that trains college students to teach children to play musical instruments through private instruction and quarterly recitals.  Prior to joining Winged Keel Group, she worked as an intern for a financial services firm in Hawaii.

Chelsea holds Series 6 and 63 securities licenses.  She is a member of the Bulldogs Care Foundation Event Committee and an active supporter of the Relay for Life at Hope Lodge Manhattan.  In addition to music, she enjoys tennis, traveling, and baking.

Barbara Novak

Managing Director
bnovak@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8064

As Managing Director and Head of Corporate Development, Barbara leads firm-wide initiatives to develop Winged Keel’s operational platform and integrate new technologies to optimize the firm’s ability to serve its clients.  Leveraging more than 20 years of life insurance industry experience, she also works directly on the implementation and administration of many of the firm’s largest life insurance and annuity portfolios.

Prior to joining Winged Keel Group in 2008, Barbara spent 14 years managing the administration of life insurance portfolios for affluent individuals and families at another insurance advisory firm.

Graduating from Columbia University in 1994 with degrees in History and Sociology, Barbara also earned an MS in Statistics and Operations Research from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business in 2001.  She is a Chartered Life Underwriter® and holds FINRA Series 6 and 63 securities licenses. 

Barbara lives with her three children in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.  She enjoys yoga, tennis, and snowboarding.

Lacey Perricone

Director
ldolan@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8069

Lacey Perricone is the Director of Underwriting for Winged Keel Group.  She works closely with the firm’s Client Relationship Managers and oversees the Underwriting team to coordinate and manage all aspects of the life insurance acquisition and implementation process. 

Lacey is a graduate of the University of Florida.  Prior to joining Winged Keel Group in 2011, she worked as an Advanced Sales Analyst for another life insurance brokerage firm in New York for four years.

Lacey lives in New York and enjoys running, traveling, theatre, and attending sporting events. 

Francie Rawson

Director
frawson@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8015

Francie Rawson is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Winged Keel Group.  She is responsible for the strategic development, coordination, and implementation of the firm’s marketing and communications initiatives.  

Prior to joining Winged Keel Group in 2014, Francie was a Communications Analyst with M Financial Group in Portland, Oregon, where she collaborated with a six-person team on the marketing, branding, and communications efforts of the company and its community of more than 140 insurance, investment, and executive benefit firms. 

Francie holds a BA in International Spanish for the Professions from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is a graduate of Leadership Portland’s class of 2008.  She has been a big sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest since 2007.  

Zach Specht

Senior Associate
zspecht@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8043

Zach joined Winged Keel Group as a Design Analyst in April 2013.  In March 2014, he advanced into the role of Client Relationship Associate specializing in Private Placement Life Insurance and Annuity products.

Prior to joining Winged Keel, Zach worked at SALI Fund Services in Austin, Texas.  While there, he worked closely with asset managers to create insurance-dedicated funds and attach those funds as investment options on the platforms of life insurance companies.

Zach is a graduate of The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in finance.  He holds FINRA Series 6 and 63 securities licenses.  A member of the Bulldogs Care Foundation Event Committee, Zach lives in New York City and enjoys golf and basketball.

Mee Mei Zhao

Director
mzhao@wingedkeel.com
212.527.8014