ATLANTA, April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- RidgeWorth Investments announced today that it has hired Robert Zakem as Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel for the firm and Joseph O'Donnell as Chief Compliance Officer for the RidgeWorth Funds.  Both individuals have more than 20 years of investment compliance experience.

"Bob and Joe are both highly experienced attorneys with impressive track records within the asset management industry," said Ashi Parikh, Chairman and CEO of RidgeWorth Investments.  "We believe that, with their level of expertise, Bob and Joe will strengthen both the risk management and compliance programs that are so important to our firm and our clients."

Zakem was most recently with Bank of America Corporation, where he served as Managing Director of Global Risk Compliance.  Prior to Bank of America, Bob worked for UBS Financial Services and AIG/SunAmerica Asset Management Corp.  Bob received his Doctor of Law from the University of Wisconsin Law School and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Detroit.  Bob has over 20 years of asset management experience and holds series 7, 12, 24, 66, and 70 licenses from FINRA.

O'Donnell was most recently with ING Funds, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for ING's U.S. based mutual fund platform.  Prior to ING, Joe worked for The Atlas Companies as Chief Legal Counsel and CCO and has over 24 years of investment compliance experience.   Joe received his Juris Doctor from Temple University's School of Law and his Bachelor of Business Administration from Temple University's School of Business Administration.  He holds series 6, 26, and 63 licenses from FINRA.

About RidgeWorth Investments

RidgeWorth Investments serves as a holding company that owns interests in eight investment boutiques with approximately $47.2 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2010. RidgeWorth's investment boutiques manage a wide variety of investment disciplines across the fixed income and equity management asset classes. Our boutiques provide investment management services to a growing client base that includes endowments, foundations, corporations, healthcare organizations, municipalities, public funds, associations, insurance companies, labor unions and high net worth individuals. In addition, RidgeWorth serves as the investment adviser to the RidgeWorth Funds mutual fund family. RidgeWorth Investments is a trade name for RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc., an investment adviser registered with the SEC headquartered in Atlanta. For more information about RidgeWorth, visit www.ridgeworth.com.

An investor should consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing or sending money. This and other important information about the RidgeWorth Funds can be found in the fund's prospectus. To obtain a prospectus, please call 888-784-3863 or visit www.ridgeworth.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Mutual fund investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Mid capitalization funds typically carry additional risks since smaller companies generally have a higher risk of failure. Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high grade fixed income securities.

®2011 RidgeWorth Funds. RidgeWorth Funds are distributed by RidgeWorth Distributors LLC. RidgeWorth Investments is the trade name for RidgeWorth Capital Management, Inc., the adviser to the RidgeWorth Funds, and is not affiliated with the distributor. 

SOURCE RidgeWorth Investments