CA pension fund hires DEI chief with no finance experience

(The Center Square) - California’s main state retirement fund, CalPERS, announced the hiring of a new chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer whose listed duties include integrating DEI principles into investment practices, and recruiting staff for DEI-informed proxy voting and ESG investing, The Center Square has learned. CalPERS, which faces an estimated $166 billion shortfall, insists the position won't influence financial choices. Shari Slate was hired for the job with base compensation of $221,580, though neither her Linkedin profile nor the news release indicate she has any experience in the finance industry. CalPERS’ May 2025 state paperwork for the position says responsibilities include “integrating DEI principles into CalPERS’ investment practices, where the Chief DEI Officer collaborates with the Investment Office,” and “collaborating with investment groups to integrate DEI into financial decision-making, advocating for equity-driven investment strategies, and ensuring