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Scottish Widows announces new Master Trust Strategist Committee appointments
Press release
14th February 2024
Graeme Bold, Sharon Bellingham and Emma Watkins have been appointed to the Scottish Widows Master Trust Strategist Committee, the provider has announced today.
Graeme Bold, Workplace Savings Director at the firm, has become the new Chair from 1st February 2024. Graeme replaces Jackie Leiper, Chief Customer and Distribution Officer at Scottish Widows and CEO, Embark, who had been chair of the Strategist Committee since 12th December 2019 and was a founding member when it was established in 2018.
Graeme joined Scottish Widows in 2019 with over 25 years’ experience in financial services and is responsible for leading the workplace business, developing strategy, distribution and propositions to market as well delivering digital solutions to customers. Graeme is a member of the Scottish Widows Independent Governance Committee (“IGC”) and a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. He also holds positions as board trustee and chair of finance committee at Sight Scotland.
In further appointments, Emma Watkins, Managing Director, Retirement and Longstanding, has also joined from February 2024, alongside Sharon Bellingham, Master Trust and IGC Lead, who was appointed to the Committee on 30th November 2023.
With over 25 years’ experience in the pensions industry, Emma is responsible for shaping and executing the Scottish Widow’s retirement strategy including later life propositions. She is also responsible for Scottish Widows’ legacy products closed to new customers. Emma is already a member of the Scottish Widows IGC and she also sits on the Boards for the Pensions Administration Standards Association and the Centre for Health and the Public interest.
Sharon joined Scottish Widows in 2020 and comes with 30 years DC pensions experience across a wide range of disciplines. Sharon also works closely with the Scottish Widows IGC and Master Trust Trustee Board, and manages the Pension Executive team as well as participating in various industry working groups. Sharon is a member of the PLSA Master Trust Committee and Chairs the ABI Master Trust Working Group and is also an Accredited Professional Pension Trustee.
The Committee, formed of senior members of the business, works in partnership with the Board of Independent Trustees in line with an agreed Memorandum of Understanding. The primary focus of the Committee is to deliver good retirement outcomes, whilst directing the Master Trust commercial activities and implementing insight-led and inclusive product development.
Graeme Bold, Workplace Savings Director at Scottish Widows and Chair of the Scottish Widows Master Trust Strategist Committee, said: “I’m looking forward to working alongside Sharon, Emma and the rest of the team with the right skills, experience and a fresh approach to really make a difference to our Master Trust as we continue to deliver on our strategy and provide best outcomes for our customers.
“I’d also like to thank Jackie Leiper for her leadership during a time of significant growth for the Scottish Widows Master Trust.”
Sharon Bellingham added: “I’m excited about joining the Committee at a time when we are implementing so many proposition enhancements which will help our members to achieve their best outcome in retirement. The close alignment and partnership the Strategist Committee fosters with the Independent Trustee Board is one of the keys to success.”
Emma Watkins also commented: “I look forward to joining the Committee so that we can pool our ambitions, ideas and experience in the market together to continue shaping the retirement landscape for the benefit of our customers.”