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NAPF's Segars Takes European Pension Reins

<em>The head of the UK’s pension fund association is set to take the helm of Europe’s representative body for the sector next week, aiCIO can reveal.</em>
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(November 5, 2012) — Joanne Segars, the chief executive of the United Kingdom’s National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), is set to take over the chair of the European Federation for Retirement Provision (EFRP), aiCIO has learned.

A source close to the association told aiCIO that Segars would be officially confirmed in the post at the EFRP’s general assembly meeting in Dublin next Monday. A spokesman from the NAPF confirmed Segars was in line for the role, but would be retaining her post at the UK organisation. 

A spokesman for the EFRP said Segars had to be formally elected to the position next week, but the vote was usually just a formality.

On November 19, Segars will open the organisation’s European Pension Funds Congress, which is to take place in Frankfurt, Germany. A document from the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), which holds its conference the day after the congress in Frankfurt, confirms Segars as the “incoming chairwoman of the EFRP”.

The EFRP represents national associations of pension funds and similar institutions for workplace pension provision across Europe. It has affiliate associations in 16 EU member states and five other European countries, totalling 28 member associations. The occupational pension plans of about 75 million EU citizens are covered by EFRP members representing over €3 trillion in assets.

The organisation has voiced its opposition to the implementation of Solvency II, legislation originally intended for the insurance sector, on European pension funds.

Segars has led the NAPF since October 2006, having joined the organisation in 2005 as director of policy. Before joining the NAPF she was head of pensions and savings at the Association of British Insurers from 2001 to 2005. Joanne held the pensions brief at the Trades Union Congress for 13 years.

Segars will take over the chair from Patrick Burke, who was chairman of the Irish Association of Pension Funds between 2007 and 2009. He is a director of Irish Life Investment Managers.