SHOOK Research Announces New Executive Leadership
BOCA RATON, FL — February 24, 2026 — Leads & Copy — SHOOK Research has announced new executive leadership appointments to advance its strategy of scaling and broadening its rankings, research and events platform.
Molly Bennard has been appointed President, where she will be responsible for driving the development and growth of the firm’s research and events offerings, as well as leading its long-term platform strategy. Blake Eggemeyer has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer and will oversee brand strategy and marketing initiatives.
Bennard and Eggemeyer join Chairman and Chief Executive Officer R.J. Shook and Chief Operating Officer Liz Shook on the leadership team. R.J. and Liz Shook will continue to lead the firm’s long-term vision and operations.
R.J. Shook said that SHOOK was built to set the standard for quality and integrity in wealth management. He added that as the industry grows more complex, the responsibility to uphold and elevate that standard only increases. He said Bennard brings the leadership depth to strengthen and institutionalize their platform, and Eggemeyer’s expertise will expand the visibility and influence of their research across the advisor community.
SHOOK is known for its methodology. Through its rankings, research, and industry events, including its distribution partnership with Forbes, SHOOK sets the standard for recognizing excellence and advancing integrity across wealth management.
Last year, SHOOK announced an investment from PPC Enterprises. The investment, combined with the expanded leadership team, strengthens SHOOK’s ability to scale its research and rankings offerings, increase advisor coverage, and enhance its events and content platform.
Before joining SHOOK, Bennard held senior leadership roles at Focus Financial Partners for a decade, most recently as President of International Operations and CEO of Connectus Wealth Advisers, where she led global expansion, advisor platform development, and strategic growth initiatives. Earlier in her career, she held executive roles at AXA US, Morgan Stanley, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Bennard said that SHOOK has established itself as the standard for advisor quality and integrity. She added that the opportunity ahead is to expand its platform in ways that strengthen transparency, elevate excellence, and support advisors as the industry grows more complex and that she looks forward to helping shape SHOOK’s next phase of growth and impact.
Eggemeyer joins SHOOK after nearly five years in executive roles with Ares Management Corp., most recently as Principal, Private Wealth Partnerships. She joined Ares through its acquisition of Black Creek Group, where she led private wealth strategic marketing partnership initiatives.
Eggemeyer said that SHOOK’s credibility and reputation create a powerful foundation and that she looks forward to strengthening its brand presence and deepening engagement across the advisor community.
SHOOK Research is the organization behind Forbes’ financial advisor rankings. Founded by R.J. and Liz Shook, the firm’s mission is to promote the value of financial advice by raising professional standards and facilitating the exchange of best practices within the wealth management industry. R.J. and Liz previously built the industry’s first advisor rankings through their Winner’s Circle business, which they sold to Barron’s in 2008.
Source: SHOOK Research
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