Betterment, the largest independent online financial advisor, announced on Tuesday it has appointed Sarah Kirshbaum as its new CEO. Levy will notably be replacing Betterment’s founder, Jon Stein.
According to Betterment, Levy previously served as Viacom Media Networks’ Chief Operating Officer and has been an Operating Advisor at Betterment for the last several months. During her time as COO of Viacom Media Networks, Levy oversaw global strategy, finance and operations for the $10Bn division that housed some of Viacom’s iconic brands, including MTV, Comedy Central, and BET. Levy also served as the Chief Operating Officer at Nickelodeon for over a decade. Speaking about Levy’s new appointment, Stein stated:
“Sarah is an extraordinary leader with deep experience managing and scaling consumer-facing organizations. As we’ve worked together over the past few months, I’ve learned so much from her, and had the chance to see firsthand what she’ll bring to Betterment. Sarah has cultivated some of the world’s most beloved brands while scaling operations across multiple business lines. I am incredibly confident that the company and the customers we serve will be in good hands under her leadership.”
Levy went on to add:
“I was determined to find a company with an authentic story and a brand that I could believe in, a brand making an impact and a difference in the world. Betterment’s mission to help people pursue happiness through financial security hit the mark for me. I am really excited to connect with customers and help share the Betterment story with them, and I am looking forward to leading the company as we continue to improve the financial outcomes of millions of customers.”
Stein is set to remain Chairman of the Betterment board and will work with Levy to ensure a smooth executive transition.