UK - Nick Fitzpatrick, the global investment-consulting chief at Hewitt Associates, has joined the BESTrustees team as associate.

Fitzpatrick retired from Hewitt at the start of 2005 after 18 years with the firm. He was replaced by former Schroders investment head Nicola Ralston.

His appointment is the most recent in a series of high-profile hires at the independent trustee company.

In January, former Mercer HRC worldwide partner and ex-National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) chairman Peter Thompson was appointed to the board.

Ian Ferguson, former Barnett Waddingham partner and adviser for The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS), was also appointed at a senior level.

Before becoming a consultant, Fitzpatrick spent 10 years as in-house investment manager for the British Rail Pension Fund.

He also co-chaired a UN committee, which aimed to develop and promote global principles for responsible investment.

Fitzpatrick is governor and chair of the investment committee at Bristol Grammar School, and a trustee and treasurer of carers’ support charity, Brigitte Trust.

Clive Gilchrist, BESTrustees’ chief executive, said: “The rate at which we are signing up new people reflects the huge increase in demand for independent trustees.
“That we are able to recruit people of such quality, experience and commitment as Nick sends out a very positive message about the UK pensions industry.”

BESTrustees provides independent trustee services to almost 100 pension funds with over 500,000 members.