United Kingdom

UK - Chartered accountant Grant Thornton wants a new system of "checks and balances" to monitor independent trustees.

UK/US - Fortune, the London-based alternative asset manager, is looking to raise its North American profile with the hiring of Annmarie Sasdi.

UK - Gartmore has hired Alix Stewart from Standard Life Investments to run the firm's retail corporate bond funds and to join the institutional bond management team.

UK - Ministers are using improved benefits for unmarried and same-sex couples to disguise a major downgrade in armed forces' pensions, critics claim.

UK - Poor member communications could be at the heart of a growing backlog of casework at the pensions ombudsman's office, it has emerged.

UK - Nine out of 10 workers believe a pension is the most important benefit that an employer provides, a survey by Virgin Money reveals.

UK - Fund managers are urging the government not to introduce legislation to limit "fat cat" payouts as the rewards-for-failure debate gathers steam.

UK - Insight chief investment officer Michael Deakin has retired after nearly 30 years with the firm.

UK - Govett Investments has promoted Peter Kysel as chief investment officer.

UK - Trustees at bankrupt food group Albert Fisher have successfully paid out money purchase pensions savings to former staff.