Richard Law-Deeks
LGPS Central – the £30bn asset manager for eight local authority pension funds across the Midlands – has announced the appointment of Richard Law-Deeks as its new chief executive.
Law-Deeks has a wealth of pension fund, investment and local government pension scheme (LGPS) experience.
He is currently chief executive of the Royal Mail Pension Plan, having spent the early part of his career in local government in pensions and wider finance role at Hackney Council and Hertfordshire County Council.
At LGPS Central, Law-Deeks will work to set and deliver the future direction of the pool in the wake of the government's consultation response in 2023.
The appointment will start in the early summer, subject to regulatory approval.
Law-Deek's appointment comes after Mike Weston left the pool last year. LGPS Central's executive director John Burns is currently acting as the pool's interim chief executive.
Welcoming the appointment, LGPS Central chair Joanne Segars said: "I am delighted that Richard will be joining LGPS Central. We've achieved much over the past five years, but there's much more for us to do. Now is a critical time for LGPS pooling. Richard's experience of pensions and the LGPS and his focus on partner funds will help deliver the right investment opportunities and cost savings and steer our further success and growth."
Law-Deeks added: "I am delighted to be coming back to work with the LGPS with LGPS Central. While there are challenges ahead, there are also opportunities, and I am excited to be helping to deliver cost savings and superior investment returns for our partner funds which in turn can have a positive impact on public finances and services in the Midlands."
LGPS Central Shareholders Forum chair councillor Eric Kerry added: "On behalf of shareholders I am delighted to welcome Richard to the LGPS Central pool. We look forward to working with him to jointly secure the long-term future of the pool and to continue to deliver for partner funds."
In addition to his current role at Royal Mail, Law-Deeks sits on the defined benefit (DB) committee of the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) and is also a trustee of a small DB scheme for a charity.
LGPS Central is one of eight LGPS asset pools in England and Wales. Its partner funds are the Cheshire Pension Fund, Derbyshire Pension Fund, Leicestershire Pension Fund, Nottinghamshire Pension Fund, Shropshire Pension Fund, Staffordshire Pension Fund, the West Midlands Pension Fund and the Worcestershire Pension Fund - schemes with combined assets of £56bn.
