Appointments: Law Debenture, Standard Life, Quantum

Professional trustee firm Law Debenture (LawDeb) has hired Mark Humphreys as a trustee director.

He joins from Invesco, where he was head of client solutions for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, working with a range of institutional clients including pension schemes.

Humphreys has also worked for Schroders, where he led the fiduciary management team, as well as Watson Wyatt and Aon.

Sankar Mahalingham, managing director at LawDeb Pensions, said: “Mark is highly qualified in his field, and his knowledge of the pensions industry… equips him with the expertise to positively contribute to our team, elevating what we have to offer to our clients.”

Standard Life bolsters master trust’s IGC

Standard Life has appointed Barry Butler to its independent governance committee (IGC), which oversees the company’s master trust and its 2.7 million members.

The IGC also has responsibility for other pension schemes within the Phoenix group, including those managed by Phoenix Life and ReAssure.

Butler is a non-executive director at insurance company MetLife. He was the firm’s head of product, underwriting and sustainability until last year, and has also worked at Zurich.

Andrew Davies, chair of the Standard Life IGC, said Butler’s expertise would be “invaluable” to the committee’s work.

Butler added: “With Consumer Duty changing the game, pension reform on the government agenda and increasing focus on customer outcomes and value for money, I look forward to working with the committee to ensure we continue to serve the best interests of customers.”

Mason promoted to consultancy role at Quantum

Consultancy group Quantum Advisory has promoted Chris Mason to principal consultant.

He joined Quantum in 2011 as a graduate and is part of the London-based actuarial team.

Mason said: “The ever-changing pensions market continues to be extremely busy leading to many enjoyable opportunities to help our clients navigate these challenges.

“It has been a pleasure to be part of the growth and success of Quantum Advisory over the last 14 years and I am very much looking forward to helping to drive our continual development in the future.”

Watkins to leave Scottish Widows

Emma Watkins, managing director in Scottish Widows’ retirement business, is to leave the company after 10 years in her role.

She posted on LinkedIn this week that she would step down from her role in the summer.

Watkins led the establishment of Scottish Widows’ bulk annuities business, which has now been transferred to Rothesay Life. The business was responsible for £6bn worth of defined benefit pensions as of March 2024.