PASA names Snowdon as chairman

The Pensions Administration Standards Association has elected Lucida operations director Margaret Snowdon as its chairman for the next three years.

She took over from previous chairman and SAUL chief executive Penny Green in August. Snowdon said she would ensure PASA - which took over from the Raising Standards of Pensions Administration initiative when it launched last November - was the recognised body on UK administration standards.

Snowdon said: “I am very pleased to take on the role as chairman of PASA, particularly at such a crucial time for pensions administration with auto-enrolment just around the corner.”

She will be responsible for implementing an accreditation system to give schemes and providers a clear set of standards, guidelines and support to help them exceed administration and governance requirements.

Previously, Snowdon has chaired PASA’s accreditation and governance subcommittees and co-drafted the organisation’s prospectus.

Green said: “Margaret is one of the most dynamic people in pensions and she has the drive and commitment that is really needed to lead PASA forward. Importantly she is also a ‘pensions person’ at core so really understands the needs of the market.”

The 12-strong PASA board has also been newly elected, made up of Debra Soper (Pearson), Fergus Clark (Aon Consulting), Jane Murray (Towers Watson), John Broker (ITM), John Simmonds (CEM Benchmarking), Karen MacKenzie (KPMG), Kim Gubler (Kim Gubler Consulting), Mark Adamson (JLT), Peter Dyer (Hymans Robertson), Phil Bradish (The Pensions Trust), Sara Cook (Mercer) and Sarah Holdstock (Xafinity Paymaster).

Snowdon said: “The demands on the industry are continuously growing and we intend to be at the forefront helping people cope. I am also very fortunate to have a committed board behind me to help.”