The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 16 October 2026.
Michael Airey is to step down as CEO of the £9.4bn Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) at the end of January 2027, the organisation announced this week.
He joined RMPP two years ago, taking over from previous CEO Richard Law-Deeks, who now heads up the LGPS Central asset pool.
Joanna Matthews, chair of the RMPP’s trustee board, praised Airey’s leadership through “challenging market conditions” as well as the acquisition of Royal Mail Group by EP Group.
Airey added: “It has been a privilege to lead the plan and to work closely with Joanna, the trustees, and the sponsors to ensure the interests of our members remained well-served. The plan is in a strong position and well placed for the team to continue to build on what has been achieved so far. I now look forward to spending more time with my young family and travel with them in South America and Europe next year.”
RMPP has already begun the search for a new chief executive.
Procentia chief to lead Festina’s UK push
Admin technology company Festina Finance has appointed Liam McGrath as its first UK CEO as it aims to establish itself in the UK market.
McGrath was previously chief executive of Procentia, also a supplier of pension scheme technology, and he has also worked in senior positions at Equiniti. As CEO, Festina said McGrath would oversee its planned expansion in the UK from its headquarters in Manchester.
Morten Schantz, founder of Festina Finance, said: “The UK is an important strategic market for us, and we have invested significantly in building the foundations for long-term growth. This appointment marks an important next step as we look to build on that progress, expand our customer base and strengthen our presence across the market.”
McGrath added: “The UK pensions market is entering a period of unprecedented change, with schemes and administrators under growing pressure to modernise their operations, support evolving products and propositions, and meet changing expectations from members and clients. Technology will be central to how the industry responds.”
Dan McLaughlin, who has led Festina Finance’s UK market development since its launch last year, will become chief strategy and revenue officer.
At Procentia, Jen Tippin formally took over from McGrath as group chief executive officer at the start of September. She was previously group chief operating officer at NatWest.
Aptia seeks to enter LGPS market
Aptia’s latest appointment is Wendy Neller, who has been named head of LGPS and governance at the administration and services provider.
Neller joined Aptia earlier this year from the Pensions Regulator and has worked in pensions for nearly 30 years, including on the LGPS team at East Sussex County Council.
In her new role, Neller will lead Aptia’s LGPS proposition supporting clients with governance and operations activities. Stuart Heatley, Aptia’s consulting lead, said the company was “committed to earning a place as a trusted partner to LGPS funds”.
APPT moves to co-chair leadership model
The Association of Professional Pension Trustees (APPT) has appointed two co-chairs to lead its work, reflecting the expansion of activities for the trade body and its sector.
Christopher Wheeler of BESTrustees and Julia Yates of Vidett will succeed current chair Rachel Croft from 21 October. Vassos Vassou, the vice chair, is also stepping down. The co-chairs will serve a two-year term.
In a statement announcing the appointments, the APPT said: “The move to appointing co-chairs… is a reflection of the considerable increase in workload faced by a growing association that has more than doubled in size over the last five years or so, as the influence and role of professional trustees has grown.”
Wheeler said he and Yates would focus on “maintaining and raising the highest standards of professional trusteeship”, while also engaging closely with regulators, the government, and other organisations.
Yates added: “Over the next two years, we want to ensure that the APPT continues to support its members in meeting [their] responsibility and that the profession remains at the forefront of the changing needs of schemes and their members.”
In addition, Amanda Banister of Dalriada Trustees and Kate Hardingham of Independent Governance Group will join the APPT’s council, replacing Croft and Vassou.
The other members include Tova Docherty (Capital Cranfield), Kim Nash (Zedra), Sarah Marshall (Pi Partners), and James Rickards (Law Deb), alongside Wheeler and Yates.
