Pensions adviser Cartwright has appointed Ian McKnight as senior adviser to boost business development for the firm, which specialises in defined benefit and hybrid schemes.
McKnight joins the company from Royal Mail Pensions Trustees where he was chief investment officer. He managed Royal Mail Pension Plan’s 2012 transfer of assets (£32.5 billion) to the UK government. He then managed more than £10 billion across three pension plans, investing around £400 million a year over his 13-year tenure and leaving the plan with £1 billion in surplus.
McKnight is also a sitting trustee of the Rowland Hill Fund, a charity helping current and past postal workers in financial need. During his 25-year career he has also held positions at WTW, LCP, Morgan Stanley and KPMG.
Robin Pearce, operations director at Cartwright, said: “Ian joins us at a really exciting time for the organisation as we continue our expansion across the UK market and enhance our services in areas such as project management and risk transfer. The UK pensions landscape has never been so interesting, or so challenging, and Ian will help us to spread our message and expertise far and wide.
“Appointing expert individuals is critical to our high levels of client experience and satisfaction; Ian is no exception. He is extremely well known and connected in the pensions space, with a knowledge and expertise that is second to none. We are looking forward to him promoting our capabilities not only to the industry but across the regions.”
McKnight added: “Cartwright is a leader in the field with ambitious growth plans and a strong team who are continually looking at new and innovative ways to support their clients to reach their goals.”
McKnight’s appointment is the latest in a string of high-level appointments for the firm, with Yona Chesner hired into the role of senior investment consultant and head of investments (North) last month, and the appointment of Barry Widdows as senior investment consultant and Southwest lead in December 2023.
