About Ross Russell

About

Summary

  • A professional pension trustee to a number of occupational pension schemes.

  • A pensions consultant and scheme actuary with over 30 years' pensions experience.

  • Previously equity partner and head of the 100-strong actuarial practice of a major UK firm of actuaries and senior partner at its flagship London office.

  • An industry figure recognised for prior work for the Pensions Management, Pension Trusteeship and Actuarial Professions.

Education and Professional Qualifications

  • Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries (1989)

  • Fellow of the Pensions Management Institute (1998)

  • Cardiff University Expert Witness Diploma (2004)

  • Non-Executive Director Diploma (2015)

  • Master's degree in corporate finance (2018)

  • Accredited Member of the Association of Professional Pension Trustees (2018)

  • Bachelor's degree in law (2022)

Work History

Since 2005 I have run a professional trusteeship business with occasional assignments as a consulting actuary or expert witness. I am the sole director and sole practitioner of the business. I act for several occupational pension schemes with total assets of several £billion and a combined membership of tens of thousands.

From 1986 to 2004 I was with Hymans Robertson Consultants and Actuaries. I joined in 1986 as an actuarial student and progressed to senior equity partner level. I have acted at various times as:

  • Practice Leader of the Actuarial Practice
  • Head of the firm's London office
  • Finance Partner
  • Research Partner
  • Head of the Audit Committee
  • Member of the Management and Equity Partner Committees

From 1982 to 1986 I was with Confederation Life (since taken over by Sun Life of Canada) in various roles within the actuarial team.

Professional Work

I am now or have recently acted as:

  • Member of the Pensions Practice Executive Committee of the Actuarial Profession and deputy chair of the Pensions Communications Group (2007 to 2009).
  • Member of the Actuarial Professions Pensions Board (1998 to 2002 and again 2005 to 2007).
  • Member of Council of the Pensions Management Institute (2003 to 2008) including service as Chairman of the Conferences Committee and member of the Finance and Services Committees.
  • Chairman of the Current Issues Committee of the Pensions Board (1998 to 2002).
  • Chairman of the Actuarial Committee of the Association of Consulting Actuaries (1994 to 1997).
  • Chairman of the Joint Working Group Actuarial Committee (1996 to 1998). This group is comprised of the five main pensions industry bodies - ACA, SPC, NAPF, APL and ABI.
  • Founder member for the Association of Professional Pension Trustees ("APPT") and a Council member 2012 to 2013 (and before that as a Council member for the predecessor organisation the Independent Pension Trustee Group ("IPTG").