NETHERLANDS - London-based pension fund manager Hermes has hired former Dutch railway pension fund executive Peter de Koning.

De Koning, the former chief executive of SPF Beheer BV, the management company of the Dutch Railways Pension Fund and the Public Transport Pension Fund, would be institutional relations advisor.

He will build relationships with Dutch pension funds, institutional investors, companies and corporate governance specialists.

De Koning, the former chairman of Onderzoek voor Pensioenfondsen, a network of major Dutch pension funds active in corporate governance, would “support Hermes' corporate governance and shareholder engagement activities”.

Peter Butler, Hermes' corporate focus director said: "Peter is a well respected professional with a wealth of experience in pension fund and corporate governance matters.

“Our effectiveness in overseas markets is greatly enhanced when we work with local experts. We are delighted that Peter will be representing Hermes." Hermes is owned by the BT Pension Scheme.

De Koning, who helped organise the 2003 annual meeting of the International Corporate Governance Network in Amsterdam, said: "I look forward to working with the Hermes team and building on my past work to advance corporate governance in the Netherlands."

Until July 2002 , de Koning was chief executive of SPF Beheer BV, the management company of the Dutch Railways Pension Fund and the Public Transport Pension Fund.

In October Hermes Pensions Management appointed John Leach as executive director of Hermes Focus Asset Management, which manages the Hermes UK Focus Fund.

Mark Hersee, formerly at Bank of America Equities, was appointed as an investment manager at HFAM and Makoto Seta joins from Cazenove Japan was chosen as corporate governance analyst - Asia Pacific.

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