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Why the LDI shock matters for DC schemes

By Why the LDI shock matters for DC schemes, Mar 13, 2023 2:13:52 PM

For those hiding under a rock, the LDI crisis arose from a reckless mini-budget - essentially unfunded tax cuts - which spooked...

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Sally Bridgeland

Sally Bridgeland is an actuary with pensions and investment experience as an adviser, trustee, and non-executive director. Alongside Avida, where Sally acts as a senior adviser, she is a non-executive director at insurer Royal London, Impax Asset Management and Local Pensions Partnership Limited, where she chairs its FCA regulated investment company. Until recently, Sally was a pension trustee for both Nest Corporation and the Lloyds Bank pension funds, having previously been Chief Executive Office of the BP Pension Scheme 2007-14. She also spent 20 years with Aon as a consultant and in research and innovation.

Contact Details

Location: London
Tel: +44 203 755 3419

Sally’s War Story

In 2007, I was recruited to take over the role of CEO of the BP Pension Fund. My predecessor had, for a variety of reasons, ceased to have functioning relationships with the line managers of both the in-house teams responsible for delivering the investment management and administration of the pension fund. As CEO and the successor, I had to make the relationships work to make progress on our normal day to day business as well as the bigger strategic agenda.

First, I recognised the importance of technical skills and language when dealing with investment and pension professionals. I established my credentials by talking about some technical issues. With the HR/Administration Head, I then suggested some “design principles” for our negotiations on factors. This avoided arguments about actuarial niceties and the numbers and improved communication. On the investment front, I used my experience and network to help the investment team make connections with external advisers of their own, with their help, a regular reporting cycle and reports on investments were quickly established. Though the experience was frustrating, it taught me a lot about politics, personalities and the need for patience.

Posts by Sally Bridgeland

Sally Bridgeland

The Aon Willis Towers Watson Merger - Talk About Governance

Nov 5, 2020 9:00:00 AM

I have devoted a significant part of my career advocating strong governance in ...

Sally Bridgeland

The Aon/WTW Merger -- A Keynesian Perspective

Oct 9, 2020 8:45:00 AM

In the good old days when people hosted what used to be known as dinner parties ...

Sally Bridgeland

Advice Sure Isn't What It Used To Be -- Thoughts On The Aon/WTW Merger (Part 2)

Sep 22, 2020 9:49:06 AM

What would you get if you merged every independent advisory organisation into ...

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