Richard Butcher will become the chair of the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) in late October, the UK pension scheme trade body announced today.

Butcher will succeed Lesley Williams, whose two-year tenure ends at the PLSA annual conference in Manchester on 20 October.

He is managing director of PTL, an independent trustee firm, and has more than 30 years of experience in the pensions industry.

He sits on the council of the Pensions Management Institute, is a member of the UK Pensions Regulator’s “Practitioner Panel” for defined contribution (DC) schemes, and sits on the Department for Work and Pensions’ trustee panel. 

He is already a member of the PLSA board, chairing its DC Council, and is a regular commentator on industry issues.

Butcher said: “Looking to the future, I intend to build on the hard work of the association members, the councils and committees and the executive of the PLSA to ensure that we continue to inform the debate and represent the views and interests of our members.”

Lesley Williams, current chair of the PLSA, said: “Richard and I have worked closely together on the board of the PLSA for some years now and I know his knowledge and insight will be a considerable asset to the organisation. He will be invaluable as the PLSA continues to push for market innovation and works to ensure that members’ views are well represented in Whitehall and Westminster.”

During her tenure, Williams helped launch a campaign for diversity within the pensions industry.

Williams is group pensions director at Whitbread – a hotel, coffee shop and restaurant company – with responsibility for corporate pensions strategy and to the trustee company for the operation of the pension fund and its investments.

Joanne Segars left the PLSA at the end of June after more than 10 years as its chief executive. Julian Mund has taken over executive duties until the trade body appoints a permanent successor to Segars.

Since announcing her departure from the PLSA, Segars has been appointed non-executive chair of LGPS Central, one of eight asset pools being formed by UK public pension funds.

 

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