Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, the pooling company for 11 Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds, has hired Peter Gent from Mercer to develop its advisory capability.
As part of the government’s ambition for LGPS pooling, outlined in the ‘Fit for the future’ consultation, it wants the pools to be able to offer strategic investment advice as well as investment management services.
Gent will join Border to Coast at the end of next month in the newly created role of head of investment advisory. The pool said he would work with the in-house team to develop a “research programme to support long-term strategic advice, asset liability modelling and portfolio construction”.
The advisory role will also oversee the development of tailored investment policies for each partner fund, reflecting their own philosophies, policies and risk budgets.
Gent is currently UK investment consulting director at Mercer, where he advises several LGPS funds.
Gent said: “The chance to craft something truly innovative and tailored for the LGPS is really exciting. I can’t wait to collaborate with our partner funds to ensure that members’ pensions are delivered sustainably and remain affordable for the future.
“I feel privileged to build upon the hard work already undertaken by Border to Coast and our partner fund officers. Together, we will continue to advance our trajectory as a globally-leading investor, acting on behalf of asset owners.”
Meanwhile, Border to Coast’s Graham Long is to switch from head of external management to head of portfolio solutions, another newly created position.
He will continue to oversee the pool’s external management team, but will also become responsible for the investment team’s work with the advisory operations. Border to Coast said a new external management leader would be appointed “in due course”.
“These are exciting changes that will enable us to deliver greater value and resilience for partner funds,” said Rachel Elwell, chief executive officer at Border to Coast. “Peter is the ideal choice to develop this element of our 2030 Strategy given his experience of working alongside and advising a range of funds across the LGPS.”
