Appointments: AMNT, Pi Partnership, Towers Watson, XPS

Janice Turner, founding co-chair of the Association of Member Nominated Trustees (AMNT), is to step down from her role next month. 

Turner was a co-founder of the association in 2010 and was elected as a joint chair in 2011. Since then she has been a leading voice for trustees in industry debates and in discussions with government and regulators. 

She helped establish Red Line Voting, the AMNT’s initiative to encourage fund managers to accept voting policies in pooled funds, has appeared before government committees, and has represented the association internationally. She is also a frequent contributor to Pensions Expert.

Turner will remain a member of the AMNT’s management committee. 

“It has been an honour to be a founder and leader of the AMNT over the last 15 years,” Turner said. “We have built an organisation that has a laser-like focus on protecting the interests of scheme members, whilst also campaigning for the vital issues of fairness and inclusion. 

“Our position has not always been welcomed by government, regulators or the fund management industry as we have never shied away from telling truth to power, but I believe our passion, drive and conviction has been respected and has meant that the voice of the member has been clearly heard and listened to. 

“Member nominated trustees’ and members’ views are not the same as those of the industry and it is absolutely vital for ordinary pension scheme members that member nominated trustees continue to be heard. 

“There is still work to be done and I look forward to supporting our new leadership and continuing to push forward our member focussed agenda from the ‘backbenches’.” 

Pi Partnership boosts professional trustee team

Pi Partnership has hired Hans-Christoph Hirt and Donald Fleming as professional trustees. 

Hirt was previously managing director and head of impact engagement at UBS Asset Management for two years, and before that spent more than 17 years in the equity stewardship business of Federated Hermes. 

He is also a member-nominated trustee of the Hermes Group Pension Scheme and has advisory roles at University College London, WHEB Asset Management, Fidelio Partners and Arkadiko Partners. 

In his new role, Hirt will focus on defined contribution pension schemes and growing Pi’s business with master trusts. 

Fleming previously worked at RSM UK where he specialised as a covenant adviser. Throughout his career in corporate finance, he has advised trustee boards on merger and acquisition transactions, scheme mergers and sectionalisation, buy-ins and buyouts. 

Towers Watson reshuffles investment leadership

Consultancy company Towers Watson, part of the WTW group, has appointed Craig Baker as chief investment strategist in its investments business, effective from 1 April.  

Baker has spent the last 10 years as the company’s global chief investment officer (CIO) and will continue as a member of the investment unit’s global leadership team. 

Towers Watson said Baker would assume “more external, market facing responsibilities” in his new role. 

Jon Pliner has been appointed to succeed Baker as global CIO. He is currently deputy CIO and leads Towers Watson’s delegated portfolio management team in the US. He also co-chairs the company’s Private Markets Investment Committee and the Real Assets Investment Committee.  

Magee rejoins XPS to lead admin growth

XPS Group has appointed Damian Magee as business development director for its administration business. 

Magee rejoins XPS having previously been head of business development for administration from 2011 to 2020. Between 2020 and 2024 he worked for WTW. 

In his new role, XPS said Magee would manage the growth of the company’s administration business across all kinds of pension schemes.