Lincoln Hires Mercer Exec (Fund Action - Top News) - Lincoln Financial Group tapped Eric Levy, worldwide partner at Mercer, as head of defined contribution products and retirement solutions.

Alger Taps Relationship Manager, Eyes Distribution Growth (Fund Action - Top News) - Fred Alger & Company has hired Jason Campisi from DWS Investments to manage its relationships with Merrill Lynch, UBS and other major New York-based broker/dealers with an eye on expanding distribution and growing its presence on recommended fund lists, Jim Blakeslee, senior v.p. and head of national accounts, told FA.

Layoffs Hit a Midwest Fund Firm (MFWire.com) - RiverSource Investments, whose parent Ameriprise Financial is in the process of buying Columbia Management's long-term asset management business, is laying off some employees in sales and marketing, The MFWire has learned.