Appointments update – 22 January 2025

Dalriada Trustees has appointed Stephen Soper as managing director for business delivery and operations, effective 1 February 2025.

Soper’s most recent role was at PwC as a partner on the pensions team. Before joining PwC, he spent six years at The Pensions Regulator (TPR), working in several roles, including executive director of defined benefits, and concluded with a period as interim chief executive. Soper will be responsible for business operations, the development of Dalriada’s operating model, key strategic projects and the effectiveness of change management. Dalriada Trustees board chair, Tom Lukic, said: "We’re excited to welcome Stephen to Dalriada and into this new role. Stephen brings valuable experience from across the pensions industry and from an operational perspective to our business. He will join the Dalriada Statutory Board and the Dalriada Exco, where his skills and experience will complement the existing Exco team and help deliver on our ambitious growth targets for the business."

The BT Pension Scheme (BTPS) has appointed Steven Dickson as trustee director.

Dickson takes over from Ben Marshall, who retired as a trustee after 8 years of service earlier this month. Dickson had a 32-year career at BT, holding various senior positions and leading BT’s Global Contract Assurance programme, which focused on major contracts in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. He is the current chair of the Prospect Scotland regional branch and a member of the National Federation of Occupational Pensions. Commenting on his appointment, BTPS chair, Jill Mackenzie, said: “Steven brings extensive expertise from his long career at BT and his Union work. He also has a detailed knowledge of pensions and I’m very pleased to be welcoming him to the trustee board.”

Aegon has appointed Antonia Balaam as head of master trust, a newly created position within the company.

Balaam has over 28 years of experience in actuarial and DC pension consultancy and client management and currently leads the client relationship teams at Aegon. In her new role, she will continue to report to Nick Roy, Aegon’s workplace commercial director. He commented on her appointment: “Antonia’s expertise in working with employers and trustee boards makes her an excellent fit for the role of head of master trust. This new responsibility will be part of her existing role, and she will continue to lead our client teams while working with some of our largest clients. The change will ultimately see our board, workplace team, and employers working more closely together to drive better member outcomes.”



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