The Society of Pension Consultants has announced Duncan Buchanan as its president-elect, succeeding Pan Trustees director Roger Mattingly, who has been in the role since June 2012.
Buchanan, also a partner in the pensions team at law firm Hogan Lovells, will formally commence his new post on June 1.
The move sees the pensions body refreshing its manifesto to focus on “ensuring the success of the recent developments in the pensions industry” and will be Buchanan’s key priority during his term.
Buchanan told Pensions Expert that the incumbent president Mattingly had “worked really hard” over the past couple of years and had achieved a great deal during what was a period of great change.
Buchanan, also a partner in the pensions team at law firm Hogan Lovells, will formally commence his new post on June 1.
The move sees the pensions body refreshing its manifesto to focus on “ensuring the success of the recent developments in the pensions industry” and will be Buchanan’s key priority during his term.
The SPC commented:
Source: SPC
Buchanan told Pensions Expert incumbent president Mattingly had “worked really hard” over the past couple of years and had achieved a great deal during what was a period of major change for the industry.
We do have the ear of government and are able to influence policy
Duncan Buchanan, SPC
He added: “The role of president is very important for the SPC because it drives it all forward, and we do have the ear of government and are able to influence policy.”
Buchanan explained he was encouraged to “put his hat in the ring” by fellow SPC members, and he received confirmation of the role on January 1 from SPC chair Sir James Hodge.
Asked whether it was a relevant factor that a partner at law firm was chosen amid a backdrop of sweeping legislative change, Buchanan said it was more a matter of finding someone who could bring “energy” to the role.
He added: “There is lots of legislative change but there’s also a lot of policy change and regulatory change going on, particularly in the DC area, which does seem to be where all the attention is going now.”
Buchanan said the SPC has a number of committees charged with helping the government and regulatory authorities design their policies and said it is “very keen” to get involved with the debate.
“There’s a real need to get people from various areas of the industry to share idea. And that’s what the SPC does really well,” he said.
