PwC appoints new UK head of pensions
Consulting and accounting giant PwC has announced Gareth Henty as the firm’s new head of pensions. The move comes as PwC’s pensions practice has been through a period of growth and evolution, building on longstanding strength and depth as strategic corporate advisors, to providing whole of market solutions for trustees, scheme sponsors, insurers and administration teams.
PwC’s pensions practice specialises in strategic advice across the full range of pension functions, from actuarial, to legal, covenant, pensions operations, investment, administration and regulatory services. Worldwide, the Big Four firm hosts more than 2,500 pensions specialists, more than 350 of who work in the UK.
Prior to joining PwC, Gareth Henty spent six years as an actuary at Mercer. In he made the switch to PwC, joining as a senior manager in 2006 – before becoming a partner based in Manchester in 2016. Throughout his career he has advised trustees and scheme sponsors across the full range of pension issues, including all aspects of pensions strategy; funding and derisking; scheme governance and data solutions; and advisor and fiduciary management procurement.
During his 16 years with PwC, Henty has also acted as a pension scheme trustee for a number of years, bringing first-hand experience of how schemes make decisions through changing regulations and challenging markets. He has additionally served as PwC head of pensions for the North of England for the last eight years.
Speaking on his promotion to national head of pensions, Henty said, “I’m delighted to be taking over the leadership of our practice at an important time for the pensions industry, with the new government already outlining its commitment to ensuring pensions work effectively for scheme members. Our objectivity and ability to draw on the skills, breadth and technology from the wider firm makes us really well placed and agile for the challenge and opportunity ahead for the industry.”
The appointment follows the recent naming of Mark Jennings as head of the pensions employer covenant and restructuring team, having previously led the firm’s regional covenant practice. Jennings takes over the largest specialised employer covenant team in the UK, with over 50 people based across eight offices.
