Appointments: Brunel CIO to depart in new year

Brunel Pension Partnership’s chief investment officer David Vickers is to leave the local authority asset pool next year after four years in the role.

Brunel announced yesterday (31 October) that Vickers was to depart in the spring “to take up a new opportunity at a large endowment fund”.

In a statement, the pool said: “Brunel is enormously grateful for David’s commitment to our founding vision, and for the investment insight and people skills he has brought to a very wide-ranging role.”

It also praised Vickers’ work on the pool’s net zero strategy and his involvement in the taskforce behind the National Wealth Fund. He also led Brunel’s contribution to the Global Investor Commission on Mining, which is working to raise safety standards in the mining industry.

Brunel said it was beginning the process of recruiting a new chief investment officer. In the meantime, Vickers “remains committed to his role until his departure”, the pool said.

BT adds two to trustee board

The £35bn BT Pension Scheme has appointed Ricky Henderson and Pauline Rourke as member-nominated trustee directors.

The pair were selected by members of BT’s recognised trade unions and the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners.

Rourke takes over from Beryl Shepherd, who retired earlier this year after 15 years with the scheme. Henderson, meanwhile, succeeds Andy Kerr, who died in August.

Rourke has worked at BT for 45 years and is currently an assistant branch secretary for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU). She is also a member of the general council of the Trades Union Congress in Scotland.

Henderson also has 45 years of service with BT, and has worked as a CWU representative for most of that time. He is chair of the CWU’s Edinburgh, Dundee & Borders branch, and is a member of Employment Tribunals Scotland.

Jill Mackenzie, chair of the BT Pension Scheme, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ricky and Pauline to the trustee board. Their extensive experience and dedication will be invaluable as we continue to serve our members. I look forward to working with both of them.”

Muse hires Armitage for DC role

Muse Advisory has hired Paul Armitage to lead its defined contribution (DC) and employee benefit support services.

He joins from XPS where he led the National Pension Trust, the group’s master trust offering. He has also worked in senior roles at Aegon, HACL and JLT.

Ian McQuade, chief executive officer at Muse, said: “‘We have known Paul for many years, and he has a real depth of knowledge across the DC market. We are so pleased that he has chosen to work with the Muse team at this really exciting time in our growth. He will be able to help us support more companies and trustees across the DC and EB space, bringing our independence to bear to ensure they find the right solutions and support.”

BESTrustees poaches Creasy from Capital Cranfield

Professional trustee firm BESTrustees has hired Alison Creasy to its roster, its fifth new appointment of 2024.

She joins from Capital Cranfield where she worked for 12 years. Prior to this she was a consultant and actuary.

Creasy has worked on a wide range of defined benefit (DB), DC and hybrid schemes of all sizes, with a particular focus on buy-ins, buyouts and windups.

Creasy’s arrival at BESTrustees follows the recruitment of Keith Burgess, Sue Hunter, Russell Baird and Peter Redhead so far this year.

Sackers adds associate quartet

Law firm Sackers has recruited four new associates from rivals, bringing its total number of lawyers to 73. 

Emmijo Barwe joins from Burges Salmon, Susannah Hill was previously at Slaughter and May, Will Dillon has switched from Linklaters, and Ciara Burke joins from Pinsent Masons.

Sackers said the new recruits would advise trustee and employer clients on a broad range of pensions issues relating to DB and DC pension arrangements.