Pensions - Articles - Towers Watson strengthens DC team with 3 key appointments

 Towers Watson has announced three significant appointments in the Defined Contribution (DC) business, which reflects growing demand for the firm’s services in this area nationally as well as in the UK’s Northern region.

 Richard Sweetman will fill the newly created position of head of DC pension consulting for Towers Watson’s Northern region, and will be responsible for the delivery of DC consulting for the Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh offices. He will lead an already large team of DC specialists, which the company aims to continue expanding in the near future.

 Richard Sweetman has been with Towers Watson for nine years and has over 20 years of pensions consulting experience, advising both companies and trustees on the establishment and management of DC arrangements.

 As part of Towers Watson’s plan to expand its DC team, the comapny has recruited two senior DC consultants: Rob Walker and Michael Varma. Rob Walker has over 20 years of experience advising both trustees and employers on all aspects of DC pensions and employee benefits and is returning to Towers Watson from Barclays Corporate Pensions and Benefits Division.

 Michael Varma also has over 20 years of experience in the pensions and financial management sector, with 13 years at KPMG and latterly with RSM Tenon Financial Management.

 Kevin Stratford, head of DC consulting at Towers Watson, said: "DC pension provision is a key component of most organisations’ reward packages and with auto-enrolment slated for legislation in the UK in 2012, it will become increasingly important. The expansion of our dedicated DC consulting team across the Northern offices reflects this and will enable us to provide our clients with the necessary advice and support at this critical time.”