Choreo has hired a former Edelman Financial Engines’ executive to serve as chief people and transformation officer, a newly created position within the firm.
Kelly O’Donnell, who spent 21 years in various roles at Edelman, is the fourth former Edelman executive to join the Chicago-based firm in recent months.
She “will oversee Choreo's human resources, brand and communications and the integration management office, which coordinates enterprise integration following acquisitions,” according to a news release. She will also work across the firm on growth initiatives.
She will report to Jason Van de Loo, the former head of wealth management at Edelman, who took over as CEO of Choreo in July 2025.
“Kelly brings the experience and perspective we need as Choreo enters its next phase. She has led teams across strategy, operations, client experience and human resources, and she understands how those capabilities need to come together to support growth,” Van de Loo said in a statement. “Her background in accounting and financial services also gives her a strong appreciation for Choreo's CPA roots and our vision for delivering more coordinated advice at the intersection of tax and wealth.”
O’Donnell most recently served as president of workplace at Edelman, where she headed “the distribution, marketing and strategy functions” of the firm. She has also held roles as chief administrative officer and chief risk officer during her tenure at the firm.
“What attracted me to Choreo was the opportunity to help shape a growing organization at an important point in its development,” O'Donnell said. “Choreo has a clear sense of where it wants to go. My role is to help bring its people together around that direction, preserve what makes the firm distinctive and make growth feel coherent rather than disruptive.”
Choreo, previously the wealth management arm of accounting firm RSM, was created in early 2022 when private equity firm Parthenon Capital bought out the business. As of December 31 last year, the firm served more than 7,000 clients with roughly $28.6 billion in assets under management and advisement.
The other former Edelman executives who have joined Van de Loo at Choreo since he became CEO include Keith Kotfica, who came aboard as chief growth officer after serving as Edelman’s senior vice president and head of employee planning (he moved shortly after Van de Loo). In October, Michael Rittershaus joined Choreo as chief service officer after serving as Edelman’s senior vice president of wealth planning service and operations. And in December, Erik Merkau joined Choreo as chief wealth advisory officer. He had previously headed client strategy and execution at Edelman until September 2024.