Paul Matson, CFA, CAIA

Paul has served since 2003 as chief executive of the Arizona State Retirement System, overseeing an approximately $34 billion investment portfolio, $25 million appropriated budget, and 240 employees. Program oversight includes pension, health insurance, and long term disability and defined contribution.
Reporting divisions include legislative and external affairs, member services, financial services, information technology, investment management and human resources. Mr. Matson reports to a nine-member Board of Trustees.

In 2012, Mr. Matson was honored as “Leader of the Year in Public Policy – Government” by the Arizona Capitol Times. Mr. Matson was recognized for his work leading the ASRS through challenging economic times and an active legislative session in which lawmakers took a close look at the state’s public pension plans.

Mr. Matson began at the ASRS in 1995 as chief investment officer, responsible for the internal and external multi asset-class investment management of the fund and development of the internal investment management division of the ASRS.

From 1994 to 1995, Mr. Matson served as Senior Investment Advisor, Treasury Division, Workers Compensation Board, Alberta, Canada. His overall responsibilities were for asset mix, asset class selection, manager analysis and performance monitoring for the multi-billion dollar fund.

From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Matson served as Financial Analyst and Portfolio Analyst, Investment Management Division, Alberta Treasury. His duties included performance measurement, derivatives analysis, fixed income analysis, asset mix analysis, liability analysis and various portfolio support activities.

Mr. Matson is also on and served as chairperson of the Arizona Deferred Compensation Committee, serves on the Arizona Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Fund Board and its Investment Committee, is a founding member of the Canada-Arizona Business Council. He formerly served on the Investment Operations Committee of the Province of Alberta Treasury investment division, and is a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy.