David Castellani, a financial services and retirement industry veteran, has been named senior managing director and head of Westwood-based New York Life Retirement Plan Services (RPS), effective immediately.

Castellani will report to and assume many of the business management responsibilities of Drew Lawton, who was recently promoted to CEO of Traditional Investments at New York Life Investments. Lawton will continue to serve as the chief executive of RPS in addition to his expanded role with the organization.

"We are very pleased that an executive of David’s caliber will be leading Retirement Plan Services in the years ahead," said Lawton. "His 30 years of experience heading sales, marketing, strategy and client service for very large and influential financial services organizations will help position RPS for the strong growth that we envision over the next several years."

Castellani joins New York Life Retirement Plan Services from EWM LLC, a wealth management firm based in Zurich and New Canaan, Conn., where he served since 2009 as managing director and chief marketing officer for executive wealth management. Earlier, he served a combined 25 years at Prudential Retirement and before that, CIGNA Corp., where he was responsible for sales, marketing, client service and strategic development within those organizations.

"RPS enjoys a reputation of service excellence in the industry. I am honored to join such a successful organization and to help further enhance its role as a leading player in the retirement space," said Castellani.