Appointments

GEOFF MELLOR is set to join Coal Pension Trustees Services as chief executive officer designate in 2007.

Pension chief wants kitemark for funds; Equitable Life announces financial strength; RSA sheds US operations; Increase in hostile bids causes M&A boom

THE ASSOCIATION of Corporate Trustees has appointed Graham Withers as chairman of its pensions committee.

LEHMAN BROTHERS has hired Gareth Derbyshire and Jos Vermeulen to its European pensions advisory group.

WATSON WYATT investment consulting has appointed David Aleppo as a senior investment consultant.

MERCER has appointed Chris Evans as leader of its bundled pension services operations in the UK - Mercer Retirement Solutions and Mercer Employee Benefits.

HERMES Pensions Management has appointed Roger Gray as its chief investment officer.

BNP PARIBAS Asset Management has hired Christian Dargnat as its chief investment officer.

MIKE TAYLOR has formally taken up his post as chief executive of the London Pensions Fund Authority.

The trustee board of retirement education charity Life Academy has nominated Alan Pickering as its next chairman.