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PMI and OPDU join forces

Thursday, March 3, 2016

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The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) and The Occupational Pensions Defence Union (OPDU) have announced an alliance to promote good governance in UK pensions schemes.

The PMI supports and develops the UK's pensions experts with qualifications and other support services for its members.

It has been supporting pension scheme trustees since 1994 and more than 3,000 trustees have passed the PMI Award in Pension Trusteeship.

As part of the new alliance, the chair of trustees for all new OPDU members will be enrolled free of charge in the PMI's trustee group for the first year of membership.

PMI chief executive Vince Linnane said the organisation was continually looking for ways to support trustees to provide good governance.

"Working in partnership with OPDU is key to ensuring we expand our membership and raise the standards of our Trustee Group."

"We believe the knowledge sharing enabled by the educational material we provide will help raise the bar for what pension scheme members can expect from their trustees."

Martin Kellaway, executive director at OPDU, said they welcome the opportunity.

"It comes at an exciting time for us and represents a key part of our strategy to provide strong customer focus," he said.

Meanwhile, the PMI has appointed BNP Paribas Investment Partners to provide expertise to its members on responsible investment.

The organisation will help PMI members apply environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in all investment decisions, as part of an integral approach to responsible investment.

BNP Paribas integrates ESG criteria across its investment processes to help its clients create financial value over the long term and protect themselves from the reputational, financial and operational risks involved in investing in companies with poor environmental, social or governance practices.

Kevin LeGrand, PMI president said: "We welcome BNP Paribas Investment Partners to our growing list of partners and we look forward to helping redefine and transform the way investors apply ESG criteria to investment decisions."

First published 03.03.2016

Lindsay.sharman@wilmingtonplc.com