The Society of Pension Professionals (SPP) has announced the election of Hymans Robertson partner and head of pension policy innovation, Calum Cooper, as its president.

Cooper's two-year term began on 1 June 2026, succeeding XPS partner and head of defined contribution (DC), Sophia Singleton, who has held the role since 1 June 2024.

During Singleton's presidency, the SPP worked with the Association of Pension Lawyers (APL), the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on solutions to issues arising from the Virgin Media case, while also helping secure the abolition of the Pension Protection Fund's (PPF) administration levy.

The organisation also said it played a key role in securing flexibility around the general levy within the Pension Schemes Act and worked with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to secure an exemption for pension administration professionals from new tax adviser registration requirements.

Commenting on his appointment, Cooper, said: "It is a real privilege to take on the role of president of the SPP. I would like to thank Sophia for the strong foundations she has laid during her tenure.

"My priority is to protect and build on that progress, ensuring we continue to be a trusted and authoritative voice for the pensions industry, representing the professions in all their diversity.

"Over the coming year, I want us to focus on delivering real impact at this time of transformative change, making sure that the views and expertise of our members continue to be heard clearly when it matters most in shaping pensions policy and regulation.

"Collaboration is also central to everything the SPP does and how we do it. As president, I want to build on SPP’s strong relationships with colleagues across the industry, as well as with government, regulators, policymakers and other industry bodies, all in the spirit of togetherness, positively impacting people's pension outcomes."

The SPP stated that Cooper would seek to build on the progress made under Singleton's leadership by ensuring the organisation continues to collaborate effectively across the pensions sector and remains an influential voice in policy and regulatory discussions.

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