Gary Smith, Senior investment Consultant, Towers
Watson
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2010 Shortlist Biographies
Penelope Biggs, Executive Vice President &
Head of the Institutional Investor Group (IIG),
Northern Trust
Known throughout the pensions industry for her drive, energy
and passion for excellence, Penelope is Northern Trust’s
most senior woman executive in EMEA and has been instrumental
to the group’s business development for over 15 years.
She is also responsible for client servicing, relationship
management, marketing and strategy.
Over the past 18 months, Penelope has been a key contributor
to Northern Trust’s success, bringing in US$13 billion
of new pension fund custody assets. She also chairs the
Retirement Solutions Practice, an advisory group she launched
in 2009 that helps financial institutions navigate the complexities
of the global retirement market.
Elizabeth Corley, Chief Executive, Allianz Global
Investors Europe
Elizabeth joined the company in April 2005, and in October
became a member of the Management Board of Allianz Global
Investors AG.
Throughout her career Elizabeth has been committed to improving
the competitiveness of the European asset management industry,
while continuously striving to put clients first. As chairwoman
of the Forum of European Asset Managers, she championed
the cause of the single market agenda across Europe and
continues to represent the industry in interactions at domestic
and European levels.
Under Elizabeth’s leadership, AGI Europe has pursued
a radical pensions business growth strategy that extends
beyond traditional mandate management to include:
• Developing a competitive Fiduciary Management offering
with successes in Germany, France and the Netherlands;
• Launching a rapidly growing risk overlay and advisory
service for pension funds;
• Innovating solutions for DC plans and making them
available across Europe;
• Initiating and sponsoring the Allianz Oxford Pensions
Conference
Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive, Aberdeen Asset
Management
Martin Gilbert has built Aberdeen over 26 years to the
point where, at the end of last year, the company had become
the UK’s largest quoted asset manager.
Martin is an optimistic business leader who is seen as
dynamic and inquisitive by his peers. In 2009 he led the
acquisitions of parts of Credit Suisse and RBS’ asset
management businesses.
His key business strategy is clearly focused on building
long-term relationships with clients through strong performance
and first-class client service. Primary focus is on institutions
such as pension funds, governments and central banks - typically
mediated via consultants.
Martin is a director of a number of investment trusts and
Chairman of FirstGroup PLC and Chaucer Holdings PLC. He
is Adjunct Professor of Finance at Imperial College, a member
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's High Level Group on
City Competitiveness and a member of HMTreasury's Asset
Management Industry Working Group. Martin is also a member
of the Scottish Government's Financial Services Advisory
Board and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Thomas Kubr, Managing Director and CEO, Capital
Dynamics
Thomas Kubr has been Managing Director and CEO since 1999.
He set out to build a truly international firm with a network
of professionals working within local communities throughout
the world. In 2001, Thomas pioneered the field of collateralised
fund obligations by launching the first-ever investment-grade
rated private equity-backed bond. The following year, he
launched Pine Street, the first-ever private equity-backed
bond, rated Aaa/AAA by Moody’s and S&P.
Thomas opened a New York office in 2003. In 2004, he led
Capital Dynamics’ acquisition and integration of Westport
Private Equity Ltd’s investment team and products.
This led to the 2005 opening of the London office. The firm
opened a San Francisco office in 2006, a Hong Kong office
in 2007 and a Munich office in 2008. This all culminated
in Capital Dynamics assuming management of Silicon Valley-based
HRJ Capital’s assets in 2009.
Jacqueline Lommen, Pan-European Pensions Consulting
Lead, Hewitt Associates
Jacqueline has over 25 years' experience in the European
pensions market and was instrumental in the birth of pan-European
pension funds. Her key successes include working with a
range of regulators to implement the EU Pension Directive
into national legislation and in November 2009 implementing
the first cross-border case between Netherlands and Belgium,
a ground-breaking development in the European pensions market
which went live in November 2009.
She also helped stakeholders realise the importance of employee
benefits and worked with public sector bodies, the European
Commission and financial service providers to develop their
services. She is an ardent lobbyist for the EU Pension Directive
and the prospective Dutch PPI financing vehicle.
Trevor Matthews, CEO, Friends Provident
Trevor Matthews was previously the CEO of Standard
Life, President of Manulife Japan, and Executive Vice President
of Canadian Operations and Chairman of Manulife Bank. Since
being at Friends Provident, Trevor has developed the Global
Forum concept which has allowed the UK pensions industry
to benefit from the expertise of the world's leading pension
experts. He has also driven and developed the discussion
on Corporate Wrap putting it on everyone's agenda.
Trevor is Chairman of the Financial Services Skills Council
and was President of the Chartered Insurance Institute.
He is a member of the Board of the ABI and a member of the
Institute of Chartered Accountants Financial Services Faculty
Advisory Group.
Last year Trevor received praise from the Australian Government
for his work on the Review of Pension Indexation Arrangements
in Australian Government Civilian and Military Superannuation
Schemes.
Malcolm McLean, OBE, Consultant, Barnett Waddingham
LLP
In recent years Malcolm has played an increasingly influential
role in the European pensions sphere. In his former position
as Chief Executive of TPAS - The Pensions Advisory Service
(which he stood down from in April this year) - he has regularly
met with delegations and other representative bodies from
European countries to explain the role and function of the
advice service in the UK. On several occasions this has
resulted in further dialogue and follow-up meetings with
continental colleagues interested in emulating the TPAS
service in their home countries.
Through his frequent appearances on radio and television
programmes such as the BBC's Working Lunch and Radio 4's
Moneybox Live, Malcolm has also developed something of a
fan base outside of as well as within the UK. He was recently
the subject of a 45 minute television documentary for the
French-German TV-channel “arte” to be broadcast
in September.
Gary Smith, Senior investment Consultant, Towers
Watson
Gary is a member of Towers Watson's European DC
management team, playing a critical role in leading and
developing the firm’s DC business across Europe.
He is a well-known and highly respected industry commentator
across Europe. His understanding and knowledge of the DC
market is very highly regarded and his views on it are often
sought by the media, regulators, legislators and industry
bodies, as well as by leading employers. He has been central
to building Towers Watson’s DC business across the
firm’s network of European offices.
He has produced numerous books, articles and research into
the critical role of fiduciaries in DC and the value that
they can add to an individual’s retirement outcome.
During 2009 Gary has:
• Created the "DC journey planning" approach
to member engagement and investment strategy
• Built a unique membership risk tolerance model to
help clients create more member-focused investment and engagement
strategies
• Built a financial education portal, including a
guide to DC plan governance and practical checklists to
help fiduciaries in this area.
• Published a research report into the future of DC
governance across UK and Ireland
• Toured Switzerland giving a series of seminars into
how DC plans can live up to the challenges arising the financial
crisis
• Held seminars in Ireland about how to make DC plans
fit for purpose in an ever-changing world
• Extended the UK’s popular investment gateway
concept into Ireland and, potentially, the Netherlands
• Delivered ‘DC Direct’ UK a unique quarterly
webcast covering the current issues and latest thinking
on DC pension provision
