Pensions Intelligence thought leadership: Is running a pension scheme becoming more like running a business?
Aberdeen Asset Management
Aberdeen's award-winning Pensions Intelligence programme is testament to the firm's commitment to thought leadership and innovation. Topics are proposed by pension schemes and guided by an expert panel of advisors, including pension lawyers, investment consultants, academics, and communications specialists.
This research examined investment decision-making and governance in UK workplace pension schemes, recording insights of importance to trustees, industry and policymakers. It comprised 20 depth interviews and an online survey of 230 respondents: trustees, chief investment officers, senior pension managers and industry specialists. Six best practice case studies formed an important part of the report, which in addition to offering up-to-date insights, provided peer-to-peer guidance from research participants.
The six best practice examples featured covered schemes large and small, in the private and not-for-profit sectors: Whitbread, Kingfisher, Marks & Spencer, Total, International Flavours & Fragrances, and BMS World Mission.
While there is clearly no one-size-fits-all governance model to suit all schemes, the overriding message from the research centred on the importance of setting clear objectives, regular reviews and a willingness and readiness to make changes.
