The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 11 July 2025.
Paul Sweeting has begun his term as president of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), taking over from Kartina Tahir Thomson.
Sweeting said a priority for his presidency would be supporting the actuarial profession to adapt to industry changes and “access the opportunities they afford”.
“Whether it is pensions, insurance, banking, investment, AI, infrastructure, climate or broader sustainability issues, actuaries can and must contribute,” Sweeting said.
“We have the technical ability, we have the communication skills, and we have the professional oversight that means people can rely on what we say. We have an obligation to be part of these big conversations and we must ensure that we are ready to take the opportunities as they arise.”
Sweeting, along with IFoA chief executive Paul Lewis and board chair David Currie, praised the work of Tahir Thompson during her term.
ACCESS names new chair as future of pool hangs in the balance
The ACCESS pool for 11 south-east Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds has elected Essex councillor Susan Barker as its new chair. She succeeds Mark Kemp-Gee at a crucial time for the pool’s partner funds, which are attempting to find new pools after the government’s ‘Fit for the future’ consultation. Read the full story at the LAPF Investments website.
LawDeb adds trustees in Dublin and London
LawDeb Pensions has appointed two professional trustees: Michael Lacey, based in Dublin, and Emma Pittaway, based in London.
Pittaway joins from PwC where she was head of fiduciary and OCIO research within the investment team, responsible for pension scheme investment advice and support to corporate clients and defined benefit pension schemes. She has also worked at Cardano and Aon.
Lacey has previously worked for Mercer, JLT Financial Services and Liberty Asset Management, focusing on pensions consultancy and trusteeship. He has also been involved with the Irish Institute of Pensions Managers and is a past member of the Association of Pensioneer Trustees in Ireland.
Drake takes up advisory role at Brightwell
Brightwell, which runs the BT Pension Scheme and is the administrator for the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, has appointed Andrew Drake to the newly created role of head of advisory.
Drake said he would work to develop Brightwell’s advisory capabilities for new and existing clients, “supporting them through complex investment and funding challenges”.
He is a former partner at PwC and managing director at Redington, as well as having held several roles as an independent adviser.
Morten Nilsson, Brightwell’s chief executive officer, said: “Andrew’s appointment adds further depth to our team. His considerable experience will be hugely beneficial as we continue to enhance our capabilities and strengthen our services.”
Gillon strengthens Quantum’s fiduciary management team
Quantum Advisory has appointed Anne-Marie Gillon as principal investment consultant within its fiduciary management oversight team.
She was previously at IC Select, where she was head of research. Gillon has also worked for Baillie Gifford where she was also a member-nominated trustee of the asset manager’s pension scheme.
She has been a trustee of the Royal Blind Group Pension Scheme and is currently a member-nominated trustee at the Church of Scotland Pension Scheme for Staff, a role she has held since 2020.
Amanda Burdge, partner and head of investment at Quantum Advisory, said: “Fiduciary management can be a complex landscape for trustees to navigate – with often subtle, but important, differences in definitions, scope, service offerings and, crucially, value and outcomes.
“With trustees already managing a broad range of responsibilities, we’ve seen growing demand for our fiduciary management services from those seeking support across all aspects of selection, review and oversight.”
Broadstone taps Utmost for actuarial director
Consultancy company Broadstone has hired Rob Kerry from Utmost as actuarial director.
Kerry was Utmost Life & Pensions’ chief actuary and played a key role in the firm’s entry into the UK bulk annuity market. He has previously worked for Equitable Life, Pearl Assurance and Aviva.
He joins Broadstone’s insurance, regulatory and risk division within its life insurance team. He will support the company’s capacity and expertise in areas such as with-profits, mergers and acquisitions, and other areas of life insurance.
Kerry’s appointment also follows news of Broadstone’s intended acquisition of ExactVAL, announced last month. ExactVAL is a specialist actuarial analysis firm serving DB pensions and insurers.
Darren Richards, head of insurance, regulatory and risk at Broadstone, said Kerry’s experience “aligns perfectly with our strategic growth ambitions in life insurance and the fast-growing bulk purchase annuity market”.
Poon to boost TPT’s risk management function
TPT Investment Management, the fiduciary management arm of TPT Retirement Solutions, has hired Vanessa Poon as an investment risk manager.
She joins from Columbia Threadneedle Investments, where she was an investment risk analyst, working on the firm’s liability-driven investment and fiduciary management services. She has previously worked at Premier Miton Investors and Investec.
In her new role, Poon will be responsible for the development, implementation, and evolution of the company’s investment risk framework, TPT said in a press release. This will include oversight of all systems and processes related to the investment risk function, including risk modelling and analysis, as well as reporting to key stakeholders.
Peter Smith, investment director at TPT Investment Management, said: “Understanding, managing and communicating investment risk in order to deliver high-quality client outcomes has never been more important, and Vanessa’s addition will be imperative as we navigate market volatility, and a pensions industry primed for change. As we continue to expand our offerings for employers and members, risk management will play an essential role in its effective delivery.”
State Street’s Prendergast to chair asset management trade body
The Investment Association – the trade body for the UK’s asset management industry – has named Ann Prendergast as the new chair of its board.
Prendergast is executive vice president and head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at State Street Investment Management, which has recently rebranded from State Street Global Advisors.
She will succeed Patrick Thomson, chief executive officer for EMEA at JPMorgan Asset Management, as chair from 17 September when the association holds its next annual general meeting.
Prendergast said: “The role the investment management industry can play in delivering the UK’s growth agenda has never been more apparent, and I am delighted to have been selected as chair of the Investment Association’s board at this pivotal moment.”
