SAG health and pension plans hires Michael Estrada as new CEO

Michael Estrada has been tapped as the new chief executive officer for the Screen Actors Guild-Producers Pension & Health Plans.

Estrada, formerly executive director of investments and finances for the plans, has been hired to replace Christopher Dowdell, who previously announced his plans to retire after 24 years, according to a statement from the plans.

Dowdell had been named interim CEO after the resignation in April 2012 of the controversial Bruce Dow, who stepped down as chief executive following reports that raised questions about financial controls and business practices within an organization that manages $3 billion in assets on behalf of Screen Actors Guild members.

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“The decision to appoint Michael Estrada to CEO followed an exhaustive search conducted by Korn/Ferry International and a selection committee appointed by the board of trustees of SAG-PPHP,” said David White, national executive director of SAG-AFTRA and chairman of the SAG-PPHP board of trustees. “Mr. Estrada’s track record with the plans makes him the ideal candidate to guide the organization’s future and we are thrilled that he has accepted this position.”

Estrada joined the plans in 2008 as director of investments and shortly after was appointed executive director of investments, a position he held until 2010.

Most recently, he managed 45 staff members and led efforts to reduce operating costs and improve internal financial controls. He also has worked actively with legal counsel to manage the plans’ relationship with government oversight bodies, according to a statement.

Before joining the plans, Estrada worked for Merrill Lynch & Co. and eMind LLC, a startup, web-based compliance management software company for the accounting, banking, insurance and securities industries. In addition to an undergraduate degree in business administration, Mr. Estrada received his master’s in business administration from the Crowell School of Business at Biola University.

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