XPS Pensions Group plc has announced the appointment of Martin Sutherland as independent non-executive chairman.

Currently, a non-executive director, Sutherland joined the board in December 2023. He will be appointed to the role following the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 4 September 2025. This follows the current independent non-executive chairman, Alan Bannatyne, informing the board of his wish to step down following the conclusion of the AGM. This is in line with the group’s succession plan as Bannatyne will soon reach nine years tenure as a director and therefore will no longer be considered independent of the group under the UK Corporate Governance Code. In addition to this, independent non-executive director, Margaret Snowdon, will also reach her nine years tenure as a director in January 2026, and will step down from the board following the recruitment of an additional non-executive director, the timing of which is yet to be confirmed.

Lothian Pension Fund has appointed Denise Le Gal as non-executive director to LPFI Limited and LPFE Limited boards.

The appointment is for four years, effective from 9 June 2025. Le Gal is an experienced non-executive director and chair with a varied career across banking, pensions and local government. She also brings strong experience in Financial Conduct Authority-regulated entities. Le Gal has been involved in Local Government Pension Schemes (LGPS) since 2009 when she was appointed as chair of Surrey Pension Fund. She currently serves as chair of Brightwell Pensions (formerly known as BT Pension Scheme Management) and of JPM Chase UK Retirement Plan. Until late 2024, she was also the chair of the Brunel Pension Partnership. She has previously been a chair of the Local Government Authority’s Local Government Pension Committee, co-chair of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum and board member of the LGPS Scheme Advisory Board.

Aptia has appointed David Carrick as group chief financial officer, effective from 1 July 2025.

Carrick has extensive leadership experience gained over 30 years in a range of global corporate environments in the financial service industry. He joins Aptia from Apex Group Ltd where he served since October 2017 as chief financial officer. Prior to this, he was chief financial officer at Clarien Bank from 2012 with previous senior finance roles at Scottish Re Group Ltd, Tyco International, Bank of Bermuda and Bacardi Capital. Carrick replaces Chris Rayner who will be leaving Aptia to pursue other opportunities.

NatWest Cushon has expanded its investment team with three senior hires.

Rahil Ram joins as head of investment strategy, Kinna Patel as head of investment proposition, and Martin Logan as responsible investment manager. Ram, who joined from Fulcrum Asset Management, is a qualified actuary and previously worked at Legal & General Asset Management (L&G AM). Additionally, Patel spent the past three years at L&G AM, and, prior to that, was at Hymans Robertson. Meanwhile, Logan joined from Coutts, which is part of the NatWest Group. Prior to this, he was pensions investments manager at Nationwide defined benefit (DB) scheme.

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