MassMutual Mercuries Life Insurance Co., Ltd.'s Retirement Services Division has hired Christopher Stout as sales director to support its growing presence in the Southeast region. Stout, who joined the firm on Aug. 1, reports to Shefali Desai, emerging market sales manager for MassMutual's Retirement Services Division. In his new role, Stout is responsible for business development and sales support of MassMutual's third-party and dedicated distribution channels focusing on retirement plans in the small-plan market. Based in Canton, Ga., he is partnering with MassMutual's managing director, Jeffrey Keller, covering Georgia and Alabama. Prior to joining MassMutual, Stout served nearly three years as regional vice president of retirement plan sales with Guardian Insurance Company of America and holds his bachelor's in Business Administration from Stockton State College.