Russell Investments is only recently no more in the ETF space, but at least one of its ETF distribution team is already working elsewhere.

James Polisson carried the title of CEO for Russell's Exchange Traded Funds business and headed the group. Polisson had joined the effort from Barclays Global Investors, where he was chief marketing officer prior to that firm's acquisition by BlackRock. Ron Bundy, CEO of Russell Index Group also played a key role in the effort.

A Russell spokesperson confirmed that Polisson is no longer at Russell.

Meanwhile, Andy Arenberg headed Russell's global ETF distribution. Emails directed to Arenberg, and confirmation from Russell's spokesman, show that he is no longer employed at Russell.

The MFWire has learned that Theresa Brennan has signed on with Northern Trust to help with sales of its FlexShares ETF family in Boston. Northern Trust officials were not immediately available for comment on her hiring. Before joining Russell last year she was at Fidelity Investments.

Tom Jenkins, a peer of Brennan's at Russell, still lists Russell Investments as his employer on his LinkedIn page.

Russell jumped into the ETF field in early 2011 when it purchased U.S. One's business [MFWire, March 4, 2011].

Just 18 months or so later it announced that it was pulling the plug on all but one of its exchange-traded mutual funds. [MFWire, August 20, 2012].

Separately, the Russell ETF equity trust has called a special meeting of its shareholders to win approval of proposals relating to the composition of the ETF trust's board and another proposed amendment. 

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