NETHERLANDS - Dutch consultancy Akkermans & Partners has hired Rob Simon as director of its new pension communication service, it said.

Simon, 34, is a specialist in strategic communication management and brand management. He will leave his job as consultant strategic communication at Baas Marketing Communication.

Marco Linders, 33, has been appointed as manager corporate pensions. He will be responsible for legal advice, the restructuring of schemes and covering the implementation for members of the national organisation of small and medium-sized businesses, or MKB. Linders has worked previously as manager large accounts at Kröller Boom. He started his career at Akkermans & Partners Support.

Akkermans & Partners new service is aimed at supporting strategy, vision and implementation of pension communication for pension schemes, pension providers and companies, it said in a statement.

Both the new Pension Bill, and the legislation on financial services, or WFD, set high demands on correct and clear communication to members of pension schemes.

During a recent meeting of civil service scheme ABP, all speakers stressed the importance of communication, as the way for keeping solidarity between the generations. Social Affairs minister Aart Jan de Geus predicted that communication would be the main issue of the pensions debate during the coming years.

Akkersmans & Partners says it expects its communication service to expand to five or six staff.

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