Board appoints IMRF Executive Director
The IMRF Board of Trustees appointed Vladimir Shuliga as the organization’s next executive director. The appointment followed a thorough nationwide search for a successor to Brian Collins, who retired as IMRF executive director in April. The Board named Shuliga interim executive director when Collins announced his retirement. Learn more.
Executive Director provides operational update
IMRF made meaningful customer service improvements during the summer, Executive Director Vladimir Shuliga reported. Average member call hold times were below four minutes during the preceding three months, and IMRF processed a record number of retirement claims during the prior month.
Shuliga said the results reflect important progress, but emphasized that IMRF’s focus remains on making steady, daily gains that lead to sustained customer service improvements.
Survey benchmarks IMRF against public pension peers
IMRF delivered comparable customer service at a lower cost than its public pension peers in 2025, according to a new report from CEM Benchmarking.
The CEM report compared IMRF with 43 other public pension systems, including some of the largest in North America. IMRF’s total cost per member and annuitant was $139 – $16 below the peer average – despite operating in one of the group’s highest-cost environments. IMRF’s overall customer service score was equal to the peer median.
The results reflect a period when IMRF was still stabilizing following the replacement of the technology used to administer its benefits. Significant service improvements achieved in 2026 are not reflected in the 2025 results.
Board passes resolution
The Board passed the following resolution:
- A resolution changing the separation of service rules, which will no longer require members to separate from the service of all IMRF employers to retire. Instead, members will be required to only separate from the service of the last IMRF employer from which they earned service credit. This change is effective on January 1, 2027. This resolution follows new legislation related to the separation of service requirements. See General Memo 698 for more information.
New unit of government joins IMRF
The Board approved the participation of the following unit of government:
- Village of Homer
Next Board meeting
The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held Friday, November 20 at 9 AM at IMRF’s Oak Brook office.