Increasing its presence in the U.S. bank channel for its advisor-sold business, Russell Investments has promoted John Harrell and Paul Izzo to serve in the newly created positions of national account executive.

Each manages the development and execution of strategies to distribute Russell's investment products through a bank's broker-dealers. They also are part of a growing team at Russell with a goal to establish new strategic bank partnerships and facilitate programs that support the growth in assets under management as well as the ongoing success of the overall relationships.

Harrell, who joined Russell in 2010 as a regional director, is based in Portland, Ore., where he focuses on financial firms headquartered in the western half of the United States.  Izzo, who joined Russell in 2009 as a regional director, is based in Houston, where he manages Russell's bank channel distribution program in the eastern United States from Texas to the Northeast.

Founded in 1936, Russell Investments is an independent, global financial services firm that provides strategic advice, investment solutions, implementation services and global performance benchmarks that are customized to meet the unique needs of institutional investors, financial advisors and individuals.

Russell has about $161 billion in assets under management as of March 31 and works with 2,300 institutional clients, 530 independent distribution partners and millions of individual investors globally.