The latest hires, promotions and appointments for the week ending 28 August 2026.
The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has hired a senior private equity expert from one of the biggest pension funds in the US as it seeks to improve and expand its private markets capabilities.
Rob Ross will join the UK’s largest pension scheme next month as head of private equity funds and co-investments for USS Investment Management, the scheme’s dedicated asset management arm.
Ross is transferring to London from the US, having previously worked for the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, which runs more than $417bn (£307bn) in assets and is one of the biggest institutional investors in the world.
Ross will report to Ben Levenstein, head of private markets, and will oversee USS’s investments in private equity funds and its co-investment programme, including “working with leading investment partners globally”, the pension scheme said in a statement. Approximately one third of USS’s investment portfolio is allocated to private markets.
Levenstein said: “Rob’s strong investment track record further strengthens an experienced Private Markets Group that plays an important role in USS’s diversified investment strategy. His experience and global network will be invaluable as we continue to develop our private equity programme, invest patient capital alongside leading managers, and identify attractive opportunities to generate long-term returns for our members.”
Mike Weston to advise property investment project
European property specialist Fiera Real Estate has appointed Mike Weston as a strategic adviser to its new single-family housing strategy known as Fresh, which it has established in partnership with sustainable real estate group Packaged Living.
Weston is a professional trustee at Pi Partnership and has held several prominent executive positions across pensions and investment. He was chief executive of LGPS Central, the local authority pension asset pool, for four years until 2023, and also previously led the Pension Infrastructure Platform as chief executive.
Weston was also chief investment officer at the Daily Mail & General Trust’s pension scheme, and currently chairs pension trustee boards of the Nuffield Health and Institute of Cancer Research.
Fiera Real Estate said the Fresh project aims to raise £1bn for investment in “high-quality, professionally managed and sustainable rental homes across supply-constrained locations”.
Weston said the project had “a clear focus on addressing a critical shortfall in the UK housing market while offering institutional investors long-term yield”.
EY’s Laver moves to Aptia
Aptia is continuing its hiring spree by adding Russell Laver from EY as head of pension risk transfer.
Laver has worked in the pensions sector for more than 20 years, advising corporates and trustees on strategic pension matters, including involvement in more than 100 risk transfer projects.
At EY, Laver was a partner specialising in small scheme endgame solutions. He has also held senior positions at Mercer and JLT.
Laver said: “Administration is the most critical building block of every pension journey and having direct access to market-leading administration teams enables us to take greater control over project delivery, providing a seamless experience for clients from strategy through to execution.”
Stuart Heatley, managing partner at Aptia Pensions Consulting, added: “As pension schemes increasingly look to secure member benefits and achieve their long-term objectives, Russell’s experience and leadership will play an important role in helping our clients navigate a rapidly evolving market through high-quality advisory and experience.”
Hymans adds to bulk annuities team
Hymans Robertson has recruited Sarah McIvor as a principal and senior post-transaction specialist as it continues to boost its bulk annuity services.
McIvor was most recently head of operations at Scottish Widows’ bulk annuities team, and previously held several other senior positions at the insurer. Before that, she worked at Mercer as a consultant.
Christine Cumming, head of buyout and wind-up transition services at Hymans Robertson, said: “Sarah’s appointment further strengthens our ability to support trustees and sponsors. Her combination of technical expertise, commercial understanding and operational experience will help ensure our clients continue to receive the high-quality, pragmatic advice they need to achieve the best outcomes.”
Petheram switches Linklaters for Eversheds
Law firm Eversheds Sutherland has hired Claire Petheram as a senior consultant. She joins from rival firm Linklaters where she worked for more than 35 years, latterly as global head of pensions.
Eversheds said Petheram had substantial experience across the pensions remit, including involvement in “significant and innovative buy-in and buyout transactions, longevity swaps, funding structures, and fund mergers and consolidations”.
Jeremy Goodwin, partner at Eversheds Sutherland, said the appointment was “a significant addition to our practice”, bringing “exceptional experience, market insight and relationships”.
Petheram is the most recent senior hire for the law firm, following the appointment of Simon Borhan in London and Craig Looker in Leeds. Eversheds said the additions were aimed at enhancing its ability to “support clients on complex and strategically important matters”.
