Trade body Pensions UK has appointed four new members of its board, including a new chair for its separate policy board to succeed John Chilman.
Rachel Brothwood, executive director at the West Midlands Pension Fund, has joined Pensions UK’s main board alongside People’s Partnership chief executive Patrick Heath-Lay, TPT Retirement Solutions chief executive David Lane, and Legal & General’s workplace savings managing director Katharine Photiou.
Brothwood has also taken over as chair of the separate policy board.
In a statement, Pensions UK said it had sought to “refresh and strengthen” its governance to reflect changing dynamics in the industry, including emerging models such as collective defined contribution schemes and superfunds.
Carol Young, chief executive of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, will step down from the main board next month, while Chilman will leave in October 2027.
Jamie Fiveash, chair of Pensions UK’s main board, said the appointments came “at a pivotal time for pensions policy and regulation”.
“I was enormously impressed by the quality of candidates throughout the recruitment process, and I am particularly pleased that these appointments bring fresh perspectives from across our industry to the centre of Pensions UK’s governance,” Fiveash continued.
“I look forward to working closely with them as we continue to deliver our ambitions for the sector and support members through a period of substantial change and reform.”
Julian Mund, chief executive of Pensions UK, added: “The pensions sector is going through a period of significant change and opportunity. Having strong and diverse voices around our board table is essential if we are to continue representing our members effectively and shape a pensions system that delivers better outcomes for savers.”
Brothwood has led the £23.4bn West Midlands Pension Fund since 2021 and first joined the scheme more than 11 years ago.
She said: “It’s a privilege to take on this role [as chair of the policy board] at such an important time for our industry. With significant reform underway, we have a responsibility to make sure that change ultimately helps our pensions system to evolve as we build and protect financial futures.
“Pensions UK has an important role in bringing the industry together to navigate that change and shape what comes next. I look forward to working with leaders across the sector to ensure our collective experience informs the debate, our voice continues to be heard, and we remain focused on delivering a better outcome for savers.”
The Pensions UK policy board is separate from its main board and serves to discuss and develop the trade body’s approach to regulatory and policy developments.
Its other members include:
- John Ball, chief executive, Church of England Pensions Board
- James Chemirmir, pensions director, Kingfisher
- Colin Clarke, head of product policy strategy, Legal & General
- Naomi Clarke, head of investment product management, Universities Superannuation Scheme
- Jo Donnelly, chief executive officer, London Pensions Fund Authority
- Camilla Egginton, chief strategy and transformation officer, Nest
- Joanne Fairbairn, professional trustee, Zedra
- Tim Gosling, head of policy, People’s Partnership
- Lizzy Holliday, director of public affairs and policy, Now Pensions
- Alan Howard, head of UK pensions, Shell
- Jamie Jenkins, director of policy and technical, Royal London
- Ewan McCulloch, chief stakeholder officer, Border to Coast Pensions Partnership
- Euan Miller, managing director, West Yorkshire Pension Fund
- Suzy Morrissey, deputy director, Pensions Policy Institute
- Robert Orr, chief executive officer, SAUL
- Tess Page, investments and retirement strategy leader, Marsh UK
- Matt Tickle, chief investment officer, Howden
This article was updated on 23 September to clarify that the four appointments are to the main board, and only Rachel Brothwood is joining the policy board.
