John E. Thompson, Jr. - President

His current responsibilities include: managing the investment managers; reviewing and presenting performance to the responsible committee; evaluating, recommending, and implementing changes in investment strategy, policy, and investment management. 

Prior to managing pension assets he was responsible for special financings, including pollution control bonds and leveraged leases. He also held positions including financial planning, budgeting and contract administration.

He is a founding board member of the National Society of Institutional Investment Professionals, President of the Dallas Chapter, and has co-chaired all thirteen Annual Texas Pension Summit Symposiums from 1995 through 2007. He is also an active member of the Utility Pension Fund Study Group and the Nuclear Decommissioning Fund Study Group. In addition he is the Investment Committee chair for the Circle Ten Council Boy Scout Foundation. He previously served on the editorial board of the Journal of Pension Plan Investing, and the Pension Policy and Legislation Committee for the Texas State Pension Review Board.

He has an MBA in Finance from The University of Texas at Arlington where his master’s thesis was “An Analysis of the Financial Aspects of a Trusteed Pension Plan.”

Bruce Cox presently serves on the board of directors of the Employees’ Retirement Fund, City of Fort Worth.  He also is on the board of directors of the National Society of Institutional Investment Professionals and is a member of the Society of Pension Professionals.

Bruce served on the State Pension Review Board for six years and was on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Public Employees Retirement Systems for nine years. Bruce retired in 1993 from the position of battalion chief with the Fort Worth Fire Department after 35 years service.  He is currently president of the Retired Fort Worth Firefighters and Widows Association.

David Pittman is a Senior Vice President and Central & Southern US director. He joined PIMCO in 1997, previously having been a senior executive with The Northern Trust Co. and Bank of America. Mr. Pittman is a Founding Member of TEXPERS Foundation, on the President's Council of Southwest Benefits Association,

Bill Blythe recently retired as the Executive Director of the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (TEXPERS), a position he filled for almost fifteen years.  He is now the Executive Director and one of the founders of the National Society of Institutional Investment Professionals (Formerly the National Society of Pension Professionals). 

In addition to his involvement with the education of institutional investors, He has over forty years of real estate experience.  He is associated with Martha Turner Properties, L.P. where he is involved in commercial and residential sales, building, and developing within the Houston metropolitan area. 

He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives for twelve years, and served in various appointed government positions.  He authored the legislation creating the Texas State Pension Review Board.  He is a member of the Investors for Director Accountability Foundation’s National Steering Committee. 

He attended the University of Texas, earning a B.A. degree in General Business.  He served for eight years in the United States Army on both active and reserve duty. 

Jim Harrell combines a background with for-profit financial institutions and charitable entities.  He served as the charitable liaison for Republic Bank and Northern Trust and the finance officer for Southwestern Medical Foundation. 

He recently organized one of the member community foundations of the Border Philanthropy Project between Mexico and the United States, the Laredo Area Community Foundation, and is still a trustee. Currently, he is establishing an ecumenical, faith based, community foundation, World Giving, to provide community foundation services to a broad base of donors who want to fund charities globally.  He brings a background of finance and administration to NSIIP.