Key Takeaways
- • Law Debenture hired Khadeja Khanum (from Dalriada Trustees, where she was a pensions manager) and Una-Marie O'Donoghue (formerly a pensions administrator at PwC) for its London-based pensions governance team, according to the primary source.
- • Mercer appointed Phil Parkinson as UK chief executive, succeeding Benoit Hudon, who is leaving to pursue other opportunities; parent company Marsh said Parkinson would take up the role "in the coming weeks."
- • Smart, parent of the Smart Pension master trust, hired Lee Hepplewhite as chief technology officer from data analytics firm Outra to focus on its Keystone pension and savings platform.
- • Canada Life created two new retirement leadership roles, naming Kris Black head of annuities and Alice Watson head of home finance, citing growing customer demand and regulatory change.
- • Aon hired Sindhu Krishna, formerly chief sustainable investment officer at Standard Life, as partner and head of sustainability for its investment consulting arm, a newly created role.
Summary
Law Debenture, the professional trustee firm, has added Khadeja Khanum and Una-Marie O'Donoghue to its London-based pensions governance team. Khanum joins from Dalriada Trustees, where she was a pensions manager overseeing the administration of various pension schemes. O'Donoghue was previously a pensions administrator at PwC and assistant to the firm's head of trustee services. Mark Williamson, head of pensions governance at Law Debenture, said the firm was delighted to welcome both hires.
Consulting firm Mercer has appointed Phil Parkinson as its new UK chief executive, according to the article, with parent company Marsh stating he would take up the role "in the coming weeks." Parkinson has been at Mercer since 2007 and has led its UK wealth business since 2022. He succeeds Benoit Hudon, who is departing following a transition period.
Smart, parent of the Smart Pension master trust, appointed Lee Hepplewhite as chief technology officer. He joins from Outra, a data analytics company, where he held the same title. Smart said he will focus on developing Keystone, the pension and savings platform that underpins the master trust, with an emphasis on scaling artificial intelligence and data capabilities. Bahea Izmeqna, Smart's chief product officer, said engineering and product capabilities must remain "best in class."
In the retirement business, Canada Life named Kris Black head of annuities and Alice Watson head of home finance, both newly created positions. Black was previously head of commercial within Canada Life's retirement arm and has worked at WTW and Aviva. Watson, previously head of B2B marketing, will take up her role after returning from maternity leave later this year. Pete Maddern, managing director for retirement, cited growing customer demand and regulatory change as drivers of opportunity in both annuities and home finance markets.
Aon has hired Sindhu Krishna as partner and head of sustainability for its investment consulting arm. Krishna previously served as chief sustainable investment officer at Standard Life. In the new role she will oversee sustainability advice, including investment strategy, fund manager selection and sustainability solutions. Maria Johannessen, Aon's UK head of investment, said Krishna brings expertise in public and private markets and climate-aware investment design.
Consulting firm Mercer has appointed Phil Parkinson as its new UK chief executive, according to the article, with parent company Marsh stating he would take up the role "in the coming weeks." Parkinson has been at Mercer since 2007 and has led its UK wealth business since 2022. He succeeds Benoit Hudon, who is departing following a transition period.
Smart, parent of the Smart Pension master trust, appointed Lee Hepplewhite as chief technology officer. He joins from Outra, a data analytics company, where he held the same title. Smart said he will focus on developing Keystone, the pension and savings platform that underpins the master trust, with an emphasis on scaling artificial intelligence and data capabilities. Bahea Izmeqna, Smart's chief product officer, said engineering and product capabilities must remain "best in class."
In the retirement business, Canada Life named Kris Black head of annuities and Alice Watson head of home finance, both newly created positions. Black was previously head of commercial within Canada Life's retirement arm and has worked at WTW and Aviva. Watson, previously head of B2B marketing, will take up her role after returning from maternity leave later this year. Pete Maddern, managing director for retirement, cited growing customer demand and regulatory change as drivers of opportunity in both annuities and home finance markets.
Aon has hired Sindhu Krishna as partner and head of sustainability for its investment consulting arm. Krishna previously served as chief sustainable investment officer at Standard Life. In the new role she will oversee sustainability advice, including investment strategy, fund manager selection and sustainability solutions. Maria Johannessen, Aon's UK head of investment, said Krishna brings expertise in public and private markets and climate-aware investment design.
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