River and Mercantile (R&M), an asset management and investment solutions specialist, has appointed Britt Hoffmann-Jones as Head of Proposition Development within its Solutions business.
Hoffmann-Jones will focus on developing R&M’s Master Trust offering for UK Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) pension schemes. This marks the first in a series of enhanced services to be offered by R&M’s Solutions arm before the end of 2021.
With over 15 years’ experience, Hoffmann-Jones has a solid track record of advising both DB and DC pension schemes. She has held various senior positions within the investment management sector, most recently as Head of Proposition Development at independent trustee and governance services provider PTL.
Hoffmann-Jones says: “I am thrilled to be back at R&M at a time of strong growth and opportunity for the fiduciary management division. R&M has a history of client-focused innovation and developing our Master Trust provision is evidence of the firm’s continuing evolution and commitment in helping clients achieve their optimal outcomes.”
Ajeet Manjrekar, Co-Head of Solutions at R&M, adds: “As the first firm to offer fiduciary management in the UK to both DB and DC pensions schemes, we’ve never sat still. In this ever-changing industry, pension schemes need to keep pace, so we’ve always looked to evolve and enhance what we do in response to changing client needs, regulation, cost pressures and the demand for better technology with faster access to information.
“We believe that around 70 per cent of schemes will undertake some form of consolidation in the next 5 years and all DB schemes should be formally considering the most appropriate strategic framework and operating model to deliver their member commitments.
“Our goal will be to develop a Master Trust offering that utilises R&M’s unique experience and track record to offer schemes something tangibly different and is just the first in a line of some very exciting developments we are currently working on.”
