Independent Governance Group (IGG) has promoted 19 colleagues, including three trustee directors, effective 1 December.

Lewis Drew, Luke Wilcox and Sue Barber have transitioned into trustee director roles. Drew is part of IGG’s Risk Transfer team and has significant expertise in funding negotiations and buy-ins and overseeing a broad portfolio of scheme appointments as a professional trustee. Wilcox brings extensive regulatory experience from his time at The Pensions Regulator. Barber has almost 30 years of experience in the pensions industry and has been working in the professional pension trustee area since joining Independent Trustee Services (now IGG) in 2010. In addition to these three appointments, accredited trustees Bang Hoang, Ian Wilson, Jake Churchill, Karen Collins and Katherine Kitt have all been promoted to associate director. Meanwhile, Stephanie Jenner steps into a new role as associate director and head of project management. The promotions also see Eleanor Rowe, Laura Dawkin and Laura Foley progress into trustee manager positions, while Adam Whitehead, Sena Erkas and Victoria Baxter move into new responsibilities as senior associates. IC Select, part of the IGG Group, has promoted Daniel Portmann to senior associate and Hamish Gellatly to associate. Rachel Trayner is now head of internal communications & engagement, and Orla Cottell is the new PA team lead.

Sackers has announced several promotions, effective 1 December.

Polly Ehrman and Emily Rowley have been promoted to partner, Hannah Savill and Lucy Bennett to associate director, and Leanne Carter to senior associate. Ehrman is a finance, investments and derivatives specialist who advises trustees, employers and providers. Meanwhile, Rowley is an experienced general pensions lawyer advising trustee and employer clients on all aspects of their defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) pension arrangements. Savill, Bennett and Carter advise trustees and employers in a range of sectors on all aspects of their pension arrangements, including benefit changes, risk transfer projects, mergers, scheme closures and governance issues. Commenting on the appointments, Sackers' senior partner, David Saunders, said: “These promotions reflect not only their individual achievements but also our ongoing investment in talent and the future of Sackers. We look forward to seeing them flourish in their new roles.”

Lumera has appointed Duncan Howorth to the Board of Directors.

Howorth previously served as ITM chair, which was acquired by Lumera in 2024, and following the acquisition, he was a senior advisor to Lumera UK. He has held several board-level roles and currently serves as a non-executive director of NatWest Cushon. Howorth’s appointment will take effect from the Lumera Board meeting in December 2025, when current board member Thomas Bill Revland will step down. Commenting on the appointment, Lumera Group CEO, Jonas Alfredson, said: “We are very pleased to have Duncan Howorth join our board, as he combines extensive experience in the UK Life and Pensions sector with specific insights into our organisation and a strategic mindset.”

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