FLX Distribution, a technology platform bringing together asset managers, distribution professionals, wealth managers, and advisors, has added five experienced professionals to meet strong demand for its investment management distribution model. The appointments are effective immediately.
20-20 Trustees has started 2021 with a further three new hires as the firm aims to cement their position in the UK professional trustee market.
Kate Leigh has joined the team as a Trustee Director. Leigh began her career as a pensions lawyer at Squire Patton Boggs where she advised trustees and corporates across a wide range of pension schemes on all aspects of pensions law. Kate also acted as an independent trustee director for the firm’s independent trustee company on a number of ongoing schemes and schemes going through their PPF assessment periods. Following her time at Squire Patton Boggs, Leigh took on the role of Governance Manager within the Co-operative Group’s large, in-house pensions team. There, Leigh was involved in a number of high profile projects, including scheme sectionalisation, high-value buy-ins and scheme mergers. She also led and project managed key projects such as GMP Equalisation and liability management exercises and acted as Secretary of the Governance Committee to the Co-op’s GBP9 billion DB and DC hybrid pension scheme.
Leigh says: “I’m delighted to join 20-20 Trustees and be part of such a dynamic and talented team. I’m looking forward to contributing to the continued success of the business and helping our clients achieve their goals.”
David Whitbread joins as their latest Associate Director. With over 40 years experience in pensions, David has worked in a variety of roles including advising Trustees as a consultant with SBJ Benefit Consultants (later Bluefin and then Capita Employee Benefits).
Whitbread later worked for Winterbourne Trustee Services where for four years he acted as a professional trustee and provided support on technical and regulatory issues to both clients and colleagues.
He has significant experience of managing DB and DC schemes, including developing governance and risk management structures, working with Trustees and advisers on DB triennial valuations and funding negotiations and ensuring member communications are appropriate and accurate.
Shay Owode has also joined as a Senior Trustee Consultant. Prior to joining 20-20 Trustees Shay spent over three years at specialist corporate pensions advisory firm, Lincoln Pensions. At Lincoln Pensions he worked with a number of clients across myriad sectors, including large corporates and not-for-profit organisations, with defined benefit scheme assets ranging from GBP10 million to GBP20 billion, on employer covenant matters including covenant assessments for triennial valuations and subsequent negotiations, periodic integrated risk management monitoring reports.
He has also assisted sponsors and trustees across a range of special situations which include event-driven M&A, in-depth affordability assessments, individual payment plan negotiations, apportionment arrangements, PPF certification reviews and TPR engagement cases.
Owode says: “I’m extremely excited to have joined 20-20 Trustees and look forward to learning from, and collaborating with, the widely talented and experienced team here. The growth of 20-20 over the last few years has been astronomical and together, I’m sure we can continue to deliver the best and most appropriate outcomes for our growing client base.”
Managing Director Naomi L’Estrange, says: “I am delighted to welcome our new starters to the 20-20 Trustees team. They all bring a wealth of experience and dynamism to our team that will prove invaluable to our clients in what could be another challenging year for pension schemes.”
