For immediate release:
May 27, 2025  

Contact: Katherine Morris
kmorris@sra.state.md.us

BALTIMORE, MD — The Maryland State Retirement Agency (SRA) announced today that Chief Investment Officer Andrew Palmer has been named to the 2025 Power100 list as a leading Allocator among institutional investors. The Power100, created by Blueprint Capital Advisors, is a non-profit enterprise designed “to shine a spotlight on alternative investment organizations, professionals and investors that are high performing, impacting the industry and narrowing societal gaps related to wealth, health, education, and other areas important to us all.” 

“This recognition speaks to the work of our investment team and the broader mission of the Maryland State Retirement Agency,” said Palmer. “The Power100, at this point, represents something of a collective institution. Their standpoint that one can encourage growth for stakeholders while being societally encouraging in broader terms has always resonated with me. It’s gratifying to see how our investment strategy not only secures the long-term retirement benefits of our members but also contributes meaningfully to the future of the investment industry.”

Palmer’s inclusion reflects not only his individual leadership, but also SRA’s commitment to responsible investing, long-term value creation, and public service. Under Palmer’s guidance, the agency’s investment division has consistently pursued innovative strategies while staying grounded in the fiduciary responsibilities owed to Maryland’s public employees and retirees.

“Andy’s recognition is a reflection of the values we prioritize at SRA: integrity, long-term thinking, and a commitment to the public good,” said SRA Executive Director Martin Noven. “We’re proud that our investment program is not only producing strong results for members, but also serving as a model for principled, inclusive leadership in the broader investment community.”

This is the second consecutive year Palmer has been recognized by the Power100. His leadership at SRA has contributed to the agency’s growing national profile among peer retirement systems. The Power100 list also features other prominent state pension systems, including CalSTRS, the New York State Common Retirement Fund, and the Employees’ Retirement System of Hawaii. Sponsorship of this year’s recognition includes respected financial institutions such as TIAA and Morgan Stanley, among many others.

“This national recognition reflects the enduring strength of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System and its investment program,” said Maryland State Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, Chair of the System’s Board of Trustees. “It is a credit to the strong leadership of Andrew Palmer and the talented investment team he has built, as well as the agency’s long-standing commitment to disciplined, values-driven investing on behalf of Maryland’s public servants.”

As previously announced by SRA on January 22, Palmer is scheduled to retire on June 30th of this year after nearly a decade of service to the State of Maryland. His contributions have helped solidify SRA’s standing as a nationally respected public investment organization.

“Andy’s recognition by the Power100 reflects the rigorous standards and disciplined strategy that the Investment Committee supports and oversees,” said Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Investment Committee. “The System is fortunate to benefit from a leadership team that approaches investing with vision, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose.”

A full list of the 2025 honorees is available on the Power100 website at www.power100family.com.

The Maryland State Retirement Agency is charged with the fiduciary responsibility for properly administering the retirement and pension allowances of nearly 168,000 retirees and beneficiaries as well as the future benefits for more than 245,000 active and former members. These groups include state government employees, teachers, law enforcement personnel, legislators, judges and local government employees and fire fighters whose employers have elected to participate in the system.  

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