The California State Teachers’ Retirement System has named John Petzold as its first director of investment management/deputy chief investment officer.

The position comprises both the broad administrative duties of a deputy chief investment officer and the more focused responsibilities of a director of an asset class.

Petzold’s promotion, from Calstrs director of investment operations, is effective as of 1 August 2010.

He will oversee many of the daily administrative duties of an increasingly complex Calstrs investment branch in his new position. He will also be at the helm of the developing absolute return asset class that includes infrastructure and treasury inflation protected securities.

“John offers Calstrs a wealth of institutional knowledge and has the proven ability to handle both the administrative and investment challenges that this job will demand of him,” says Calstrs chief investment officer Christopher J. Ailman. “John emerged as the top choice from a field of both internal and external candidates following a nationwide search.”

With 30 years of Calstrs experience, Petzold has held positions in both the benefits accounting and investments sides of the organisation. He joined Calstrs as an analyst in the accounting office of the benefits division one year after earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the California State University, Sacramento, in 1979.

Calstrs became independent of Calpers in its investment management in 1983. That year, Petzold transitioned to the Calstrs investment accounting division, rising through the ranks to the top position. In 1988, Petzold joined the investments operations division and later became director of investment operations.