Towers Watson has named an internal candidate and longtime
consultant to lead its retirement business in the UK and Ireland.
Peter Rowles will take over from John Ball, who was appointed in June as head of retirement for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Rowles has been with Towers Watson since 1987, and most recently led its Reigate, UK-based retirement consultancy group. Prior to that, Rowles spent two years on the buy side as a pensions administrator for Unilever.
Ball called Rowles “one of our most experienced consultants” and a “gifted client relationship manager,” noting that he was “ideally placed to develop and grow the business in the coming years.”
Another former asset owner has ascended to a top management position as well. Lombard Odier Investment Managers—a Geneva-based branch of the Swiss banking concern—announced on August 11 that it has scooped up BlackRock’s former head of US investment outsourcing (OCIO).
Nancy Everett has moved into the newly created role of senior advisor for the firm’s US business, reporting to Managing Partner Hubert Keller. She has been charged with expanding its client base among large institutions.
“Investors’ needs in this economic environment are increasingly sophisticated and as our US business expands to respond, Nancy’s experience will help us tailor solutions,” Keller said.
Everett’s experience includes two years at BlackRock—the world’s largest asset manager—developing its US OCIO operation. From 2005 to 2010, she led General Motors Asset Management (now Promark Global Advisors) as CEO and CIO, responsible for more than $170 billion in assets.
The auto giant was Everett’s second CIO job. Over the course of two decades at the Virginia Retirement System, she climbed the top investment position at the $42 billion fund in 1999.
Related Content: 2014 Outsourced-CIO Buyer’s Guide; Towers Watson Shakes Up Investment Practice