The leader of Hawthorn, PNC Family Wealth is taking on another role within the PNC group.

Thomas Melcher, managing executive of Hawthorn, PNC Family Wealth, the multi-family office, will succeed James Dunigan as PNC Asset Management Group's chief investment officer on January 1, 2016.

Nicole Perkins, market director of fiduciary services for Hawthorn's Philadelphia and Delaware markets, will take over from Melcher to lead Hawthorn.

Prior to joining PNC in 2011, Perkins ran her own private legal practice, where she counseled families and the owners of family-owned businesses in the areas of wealth preservation, multi-generational planning, business succession planning and charitable planning. She previously practiced as a trust and estate associate at Morgan Lewis and Duane Morris.

Melcher and Dunigan, who will be retiring in 2016, will work closely through mid-2016 to transition Dunigan's additional responsibilities as managing executive of investments to Melcher. 

Dunigan joined PNC predecessor Provident National Bank as a portfolio manager in the trust and investment management division in 1987. Over nearly three decades with the company, he has held various management and investment leadership roles, and today chairs PNC's investment policy committee and administrative committee with oversight of pension and 401(k) plans.

Melcher joined PNC in 1991 as a credit analyst, advancing through a number of roles including chief investment officer for PNC Wealth Management in Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. He was named managing executive of Hawthorn in 2004.