The CEO of Iowa’s largest public pension system resigned on May 1, effective immediately, Gov. Kim Reynolds says.
Greg Samorajski, who Reynolds appointed to lead the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System in 2020, has been on administrative leave since March 31 amid a misconduct investigation.
Reynolds, in a May 7 news release, said she has directed the Iowa Department of Administrative Services to conduct a nationwide search for a new chief executive for IPERS.
The pension system manages more than $45 billion worth of assets for more than 400,000 current and former Iowa public employees.
IPERS General Counsel Elizabeth Hennessey has been serving as acting IPERS CEO since Samorajski was placed on leave and Reynolds said May 7 that she will continue in that role until a new leader is hired.
IPERS CEO Gregory Samorajski
IPERS Chief Benefit Officer Steven Herbert has also been on administrative leave since April 1 pending an investigation concerning allegations of misconduct.
Reynolds said April 7 that the decision to place the two top IPERS officials on leave has no impact on the solvency of the IPERS trust fund and all beneficiaries will continue to receive their payments.
Stephen Gruber-Miller is the Capitol bureau chief for the Des Moines Register. He covers the Iowa Statehouse, the governor’s office and political campaigns. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com, by phone at 515-284-8169 or on X at @sgrubermiller.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: IPERS CEO under misconduct investigation resigns, Kim Reynolds says
