Ascensus announced  that Phillip Gillespie has joined the company as its new Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer. Gillespie reports to Ascensus Chair and CEO David Musto and is based in the company's Newton, MA office.

Gillespie most recently served as Senior Counsel in the Investment Management and Securities Practice Group of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr in Boston, MA. Previously, he was EVP and General Counsel for State Street Global Advisors, with responsibility for the global legal affairs of State Street Corporation's asset management arm. Prior to State Street, Gillespie held legal function leadership roles with Oppenheimer Funds, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, and Chancellor LGT Asset Management.

Earlier in his career, he served as a Senior Counsel with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as an associate with Perkins Coie, and on the staff of the U.S. Court of Appeals.

After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Services from Georgetown University, Gillespie was awarded his Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School. He has served as an adjunct professor at Boston University Law School in the institution's program for Banking and Financial Services since 2020.

Gillespie succeeds Joe Dansky, who earlier in 2024 shared his plans to leave Ascensus to pursue new career opportunities. Dansky will remain with Ascensus until early May to support the leadership transition.