Europe

UK - Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow has appointed Matt Padula as business leader for its benefits delivery business in the UK.

UK - The £2.9bn Diageo Pension Scheme has reaffirmed its commitment to equities - despite an FRS17 deficit of nearly £1bn.

UK - Pillar Property has appointed Louise Maskell to coordinate the marketing for the Hercules Unit Trust.

UK/IRELAND - Zurich Financial Services has appointed Geoff Riddell as chief executive of its general insurance business in the UK, Ireland and Southern Africa.

SCOTLAND - Hazell Carr is to open an office in Stirling to provide a dedicated resourcing facility to the Scottish pensions and insurance industry.

EU/UK - The EU Parliament has been urged to ratify a new directive which would enable large companies to run pan-European pension schemes.

EU/UK - The EU Parliament has been urged to ratify a new directive which would enable large companies to run pan-European pension schemes.

UK - Medium-sized fund managers cannot meet the growing demand for specialist investment and face being squeezed out of the market, Aon Consulting predicts.

UK - Police officers with 30 or more years service are to gain access to a trial phased-in retirement local authority scheme introduced by the Home Office.

UK - High street retailer Marks & Spencer has selected Threadneedle Investments to provide investment and administration services for the new Marks & Spencer defined contribution plan.