Appointments: New interim CEO at Nest

Nest, the UK’s largest master trust, has named Ian Cornelius as interim CEO, taking over from Helen Dean.

Cornelius will take up his new position on 1 May 2024, Nest said in a press release. The appointment is expected to be for a period of about 12 months while a permanent CEO is recruited. He will also join the company’s board as accounting officer.

Cornelius was previously interim group CEO at Skipton Building Society, and before that was the company’s commercial and strategy director for 10 years.

Brendan McCafferty, chair of Nest, said the new CEO’s experience would help take Nest forward as it continues to grow.

Ian Cornelius said: “I’m excited to be joining Nest as it continues to develop. The organisation has a unique and purposeful place in the sector and I’m looking forward to supporting the next phase of its future.”

Hymans appoints policy chief

Consultancy group Hymans Robertson has appointed Calum Cooper to the newly created role of head of pension policy innovation.

Cooper will be responsible for the firm’s input into pensions policy and regulation, as well as “finding alignment between the firm’s capabilities and expertise and a wider social purpose”, Hymans said.

Cooper joined Hymans Robertson in 2003 and works with charities, pension scheme trustees and sponsors on strategy and sustainability issues. He is also actuary to the trustees of the Clara Pension Trust.

Richard Shackleton, head of pensions at Hymans Robertson, said: “Calum has a great passion for making change in pensions happen, for the good of both society and individuals. Combining this with his boundless energy, innovative thinking and vast pensions expertise, I know he will be fantastic in working to achieve policy change.”

Cooper added: “It’s an exciting time to get involved in pensions policy innovation. There’s a general election looming, defined benefit schemes are at an inflection point, collective defined contribution is emerging and there’s a wall of pensions consultations out there reflecting a political desire to deploy pensions capital to deliver more for stakeholders.

“There are also huge adequacy and equity challenges in defined contribution. The stars of change are aligning, and I’m looking forward to working with others across the industry to shape a better, sustainable future in pensions.”

First Actuarial poaches Greenwood from Isio

Scheme actuary Vicky Greenwood has joined First Actuarial from Isio, to work from the company’s Manchester office.

She joined Isio when it spun out from KPMG in 2020. At KPMG she qualified as a scheme actuary, and has previously worked at Buck and Mitchell Consulting.

At First Actuarial, Vicky will take on scheme actuary responsibilities, provide services to employers, and support the firm’s growth through new business opportunities.

Fieldfisher hires quartet of lawyers from PwC

European law firm Fieldfisher has grown its pensions team with four new appointments from PwC.

Partner Oliver Reece, directors Lindsay O'Farrell and Daniel Fowler and associate Larisa Gordan have all joined in either the Manchester or London offices.

The moves follow a “strategic legal review by PwC”, according to Fieldfisher. The new hires will work closely with PwC and legacy clients to ensure continuity.

Reece has led PwC’s pensions legal team for nearly 18 years, and prior to this worked at the Pensions Regulator.

Broad joins Broadstone as investment consultant

Consultancy firm Broadstone has appointed Daniel Broad as a senior investment consultant in its consulting and actuarial division.

He joins from Isio where he was a director, working with institutional investors including pension scheme trustees and sponsors.

People’s Pension adds trustee director

The People’s Pension has appointed Dr Sheila Doyle to serve on its trustee board. She is the seventh trustee director overseeing the running of the £26bn master trust.

Doyle has more than 30 years of experience in executive and board positions across organisations including Deloitte, BP, Royal Mail, IBM, and Deutsche Bank. She is also a non-executive director for NHS Supply Chain and the London Ambulance Service.

Former Smart Pension strategy boss goes it alone

Martin Freeman, who was platform strategy director at Smart Pension until January this year, has set up his own consultancy business focusing on technology solutions for the pensions sector.

The company, Pensio, will help organisations “to build and use the best pensions technology”, Freeman said in a LinkedIn post.

“We’re at an exciting crossroads in the industry,” he added. “Dashboards are increasing the demand for digitisation, unleashing incredible potential. Small pots and lifetime provider policies could turn the traditional value chain on its head. And the relentless focus on value for money and consolidation makes us look for ways to serve members better and more efficiently.”

Prior to joining Smart in 2018, Freeman was a senior DC consultant at Capita Employee Benefits. He has also worked for Jardine Lloyd Thompson and Profunds.