Appointments: PLSA names Nest’s Alexander as policy chief

The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has announced that Zoe Alexander will be its new director of policy and advocacy.

Alexander is currently director of strategy and corporate affairs at Nest, the UK’s largest master trust. She also chairs the PLSA’s Master Trust Committee and sits on its Policy Board.

Her previous roles include leading the Treasury team that established Pension Wise, and working at the Department for Work and Pensions, including a period as the private secretary for pensions to the Secretary of State.

Alexander will join the PLSA’s main board when she starts her new role on 4 November.

She succeeds Nigel Peaple, who will formally move to become the PLSA’s first chief policy counsel from September. He will retain his current responsibilities on an interim basis until Alexander joins.

Julian Mund, chief executive at the PLSA, said Alexander was joining at “a potentially transformative time for pensions policy”, given the Pensions Review and Pension Schemes Bill both in development.

Alexander added: “A new government creates space for innovative, long-term policy making that has the potential to really shift the dial for pension savers.

“The PLSA will play a key role in shaping this thinking, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead a talented team, building on their strong record of advocacy in savers’ interests.”

Henty to lead PwC pensions team

Consultancy giant PwC has named Gareth Henty as head of pensions to lead its growing team.

Henty has worked at PwC for 18 years and became a partner in 2016. He advises trustees and scheme sponsors on all aspects of pensions strategy, funding, derisking, governance, data solutions, and adviser and fiduciary management procurement.

PwC has also appointed Mark Jennings as head of its pensions employer covenant and restructuring team, having previously led the firm’s regional covenant practice.

Capital Cranfield poaches McCrea to lead secretarial business

Capital Cranfield has hired Owen McCrea from Coal Pension Trustees as its new head of secretarial services.

At Coal Pension Trustees, McCrea was head of secretariat supporting the trustee board. He previously worked at Barnett Waddingham for seven years, latterly as a senior pensions management consultant.

BTPS’s sustainability chief joins asset manager

Gulf Investment Bank (GIB) Asset Management has hired Victoria Barron from the BT Pension Scheme as chief sustainability officer.

At the pension scheme, Barron was head of sustainable investment, responsible for its sustainable investment and stewardship strategy. She currently co-chairs the ASCOR Project (Assessing Sovereign Climate-related Opportunities and Risks).

GIB is a boutique institutional asset manager with offices in the US and Europe, as well as the Middle East.

Rajah gets expanded investment role at Aviva

Aviva has named Maiyuresh Rajah as its new director of investments for wealth and advice, within its UK Insurance, Wealth & Retirement business. He was previously head of investment strategy and propositions.

In his new role, Rajah will oversee all investment activity across the Wealth and Advice unite, including investment strategy, proposition development, investment governance, asset transitions, and sustainable investing for workplace and retail pension offerings.

Trio of changes at Capita

Capita has made three changes to its senior leadership team, with Peter Rolland appointed chief governance officer. He was previously a managing director overseeing Capita’s consultancy practice.

The company has also promoted Paul Capel to managing partner. Capel will take over leadership of the pensions consulting business alongside his role overseeing the data solutions team.

Meanwhile, Anish Rav has been given an expanded role as director of global pensions policy and propositions. As well as his existing policy responsibilities, he will now lead on developing and enhancing the company’s propositions to ensure they “meet the evolving needs and expectations of our clients and the market”, Capita said.

Procentia hires Donkin as growth officer

Pension technology company Procentia has appointed Steve Donkin as chief growth officer. Donkin is one of Procentia’s founders and was previously an executive director.

In his new role, the company said Donkin would lead sales, marketing and business growth strategies.

Procentia CEO Liam McGrath added that Donkin’s experience and knowledge would “invaluable” as it continues to expand.

Two new partners at First Actuarial

First Actuarial has appointed Kirk Hinton and Peter Norman as partners in its Peterborough office. This follows the recent creation of a new layer of 14 associate partners, announced last month.

Norman is a scheme actuary, while Hinton led the actuarial team in Peterborough for several years.