Boston-based investment management firm Eaton Vance has appointed Robert Whelan as vice president and director of finance.

He will become chief financial officer upon the retirement of William Steul in October.

Since 2004 Mr Whelan has been the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Boston Private Wealth Management Group, where he is responsible for all financial functions of the company and its thirteen subsidiaries and is a member of the executive committee.

Before joining Boston Private, he was the senior vice president and chief financial officer of MFS Investment Management.

Mr Steul has been chief financial officer since joining the company in 1994 and will retire at the end of fiscal 2007 under the company’s mandatory retirement policy for senior officers.

Eaton Vance had $135.5 billion of assets under management on 31 January 2007.