BetterInvesting Names Ken Zendel as CEO

Ken Zendel, of Bloomfield Township, Michigan, has joined the nonprofit National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC) / BetterInvesting as Chief Executive Officer.   

Zendel replaces Kamie Zaracki, who retired, at the helm of the Madison Heights, Michigan, based organization dedicated to educating investors.

“We are looking forward to Ken leading the NAIC / BetterInvesting community into the next decade,” said Eve Lewis, Chair of the Board of Directors. “A lifelong investor, Ken is uniquely qualified with broad marketing and team leadership experience — and a passion for investment education.”

Previously, Zendel was the managing director of the Detroit office of Isobar, a global digital agency. He and his team were responsible for providing digital marketing and technology solutions (e.g., mixed reality) for Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC.

During his tenure, the Isobar Detroit office was named the 2018 Automotive Agency of the Year (Digital) by MediaPost and was selected by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of the 2018 Cool Places to Work in Michigan. 

“A wise individual once said, ‘our prime purpose in this life is to help others.’  As a nonprofit organization, NAIC / BetterInvesting has a long, proud history of teaching people how to become successful long-term investors. We have helped millions of Americans over the years,” Zendel said.

“My primary charge will be to market the mission and methodology while accelerating the organization’s digital transformation.”

Zendel has an extensive advertising and digital marketing background having also worked for Leo Burnett, J. Walter Thompson, and other agencies on well-known brands such as Ford, KFC and Burger King.

“Catastrophic events like the COVID-19 global pandemic bring change as well as opportunity to our lives – and likewise to our organization. We have successfully transitioned our team to work from home. The health, safety and well-being of our members, volunteers, staff and partners are of vital importance,” Zendel said.

“We have maintained the focus on empowering our members by continuing to provide a program of time-tested investment education and support that helps create successful lifelong investors. In this period of economic turmoil, America needs NAIC / BetterInvesting as much today as at any time since our founding in 1951.”

Zendel, a graduate of The University of Chicago, is married to Amy and has three children.