UK – Pinsents lawyer Robin Ellison has been named as the new chairman of the National Association of Pension Funds, taking over from Terry Faulkner.

“Robin Ellison has been elected as the next chairman of the National Association of Pension Funds and takes over from Terry Faulkner who steps down at the next NAPF Annual Conference in May 2005,” the NAPF said in a statement.

IPE reported yesterday that Ellison was in the running for the role alongside Raymond Martin, head of pensions at Scottish & Newcastle plc Pension Plan.

Ellison told IPE in an interview today that he would be looking to “develop a solution” to the problems currently facing the UK pension industry during his tenure. “I think there are answers,” he said.

He identified the problems as complication, regulation, “forum shopping” and extra expenses. He added the NAPF would have to work more closely with the “multiplicity of associations” in the industry.

Ellison is a member of the NAPF Benefits Council and is head of strategic development, pensions at law firm Pinsents. He is a director of the boards of a number of companies, including Pendragon Professional Information and is a trustee of several pension funds.

He is a member of the Confederation of British Industry Pensions Panel and was a founder of the Association of Pensions Lawyers. In 1997 he was the first solicitor elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Pensions Management Institute.

“I am delighted to have been elected to serve as NAPF chairman at this important time for the pensions world,” Ellison stated.

“With legislation now in place, there are still ongoing concerns with issues such as the Financial Assistance Scheme and the Pensions Protection Fund. The NAPF is determined that its members’ voice continues to be heeded and I look forward to continuing the good work done by my predecessors.”

Ellison has a notoriously poor sense of direction. In Belgium for a conference this week, he ended up not just at the wrong hotel, but at the wrong town. There are two Louvains, apparently. He was 40 miles from the correct venue and seriously stranded. It was only after numerous phone calls and a very long and expensive taxi ride that he made it to the right place. “Only Robin could get lost like that,” said an observer.

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