Spence & Partners (Spence), one of the leading providers of pensions advisory and data services to pensions schemes in the UK, has today appointed Alistair Russell-Smith to lead the firm’s Corporate practice and the Public Sector, Charities and Not-for-Profit practice.
Alistair is a practising scheme actuary and has more than 20 years’ experience as an actuary working for DB and DC pension schemes. In his new role, Alistair will provide advice for pension scheme trustees, employers and third-sector bodies on all aspects of pension provision.
Before joining Spence, Alistair was a Partner and Head of Corporate Defined Benefit Pensions at Hymans Robertson – a position he held since 2018, having joined the business in 2000. He also led Hymans’ third sector offering and has extensive experience working with clients in the not-for-profit sector. His work focused on funding and de-risking solutions, benefit strategy, and more sector-specific issues like managing participation in multi-employer pension schemes. In recent years, he has advised corporates on DB consolidation options including transferring to commercial consolidators and DB master trusts. He also worked with corporates on their DB funding approaches in light of the new DB funding regime.
Alistair has been a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries since 2004. He will be joining Spence's London office.
Alistair has been appointed to replace David Davison, who is set to retire at the end of January 2024. David entered the pensions industry in 1985 and established the Glasgow office for Spence & Partners when he joined the firm in 2004. David was a co-owner and Director of the business and also established, and led, the corporate and the public sector, charity and not-for-profit practices since 2006.
Alan Collins, Managing Director at Spence & Partners, comments: “Alistair’s extensive experience in advising pension scheme trustees, corporate and charity clients will be a valuable asset to our business. I am confident that his leadership, industry knowledge, and specialist expertise will be a huge benefit to our clients and will help strengthen our position in the market, particularly in London and the south east.”
Alistair Russell-Smith said: “Spence is on a mission to simplify pensions and has developed an excellent reputation in the industry. I’m excited at the prospect of joining a firm that makes advice so accessible and where not-for-profit is important to the business. I look forward to meeting my new colleagues and clients and helping to further the growth of the business.”