Dutch pension administrator PGGM has announced that its strategic asset liability manager (ALM) adviser, Dick Boeijen, has died.

PGGM said it bids a “painful farewell to a much-loved and valued colleague” who was also one of the chief architects of the Future Pensions Act.

Dick joined PGGM as an actuary in 2002, where he enthusiastically helped launch a new project group called ‘Be prepared’, tasked with developing a vision for the future of (supplementary) pensions in the Netherlands.

With his positive attitude, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and humour, he quickly became the driving force behind job satisfaction and PGGM's contribution to modernising the existing pension system,” PGGM said.

“Dick utilised his free spirit to the fullest for this purpose. He was not stuck in the status quo; he always thought in terms of possibilities and solutions. In his optimism, he assumed that the reform, which was already considered necessary at the time, could be realised within a few years. It would take almost 20 years before employers and employees, politicians and the sector itself were ready for the first regulations to be implemented within the framework of the Wtp.

“Where other key players dropped out over the course of those two decades, Dick persevered with his indestructible positivity in his attempts to get all parties on board with the reform. He also developed in this regard: he was a free thinker who understood that he also had to connect with people in order to get them on board. Dick was a welcome guest, winning the trust of countless stakeholders among social partners, the ministry and politicians, and helping anyone who sought advice on pension issues.

“In doing so, he was able to put himself aside and sacrifice his own ideas for the greater cause of creating a new, more modern system. This made him a relevant discussion partner for everyone and gave him influence. Always in the background: he knew that it would only work if there was good cooperation between many parties and people. Dick was not the one who made the decisions, says a colleague who was a friend of his. He paved the way for others to make important decisions," PGGM stated.

PGGM said it will take Dick’s ideas, his legacy, into all discussions about the future of pensions.

“Because thinking about this never stops, as Dick always said. We will cherish what he has left us.”

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