HERMES Pensions Management chief executive Mark Anson has quit the firm to join a US fund manager.

THE SECOND phase of the 'Protecting People's Pensions' initiative launched earlier this year by the Pension Protection Fund has been unveiled.

SOUTH KOREA - The National Pension Service (NPS) of the Republic of Korea has reportedly entrusted about US$2bn to the World Bank and two investment firms in an effort to boost its investment skills.

Personal accounts will lead to a levelling down of occupational pension provision despite concessions agreed by the government, managers warn.

UK - Balanced pooled pension fund weightings to UK equities reportedly hit a record low of 46.3% at the end of the second quarter of 2007, as managers moved money out of the sector, according to a new statistics.

UK - Frozen food company Findus has appointed Alexander Forbes Financial Services (AFFS) to set up its personal pension scheme.

A hedge fund-backed bulk annuity provider which is targeting £10bn of larger scheme liabilities is set to launch in the autumn, Professional Pensions can reveal.

UK - The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has published corporate governance policy and voting guidelines for companies in the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

LIFE assurance group Just Retirement has seen sales for the 12 months to June 30 soar 127pc on the previous year to £676.8m.

AUSTRALIA - Don Luke, the former chief executive officer of SunSuper, has joined the board of AMP Capital Investors Limited following his departure from the Queensland-based superannuation fund in May this year.