IRELAND - Brendan Kennedy, actuarial adviser at the Pensions Board, is to take over as chief executive of the regulator from Anne Maher.

Kennedy joined the Board in 2004 and has been involved in regulatory issues and the preparation of the National Pensions Review and the report on Special Savings for Retirement. He's made numerous presentations about pan-European pensions.

"The big thing for Ireland is the Green Paper next year, which the Pensions Board has been contributing to," Kennedy told IPE in a brief interview. "Defined benefit schemes, as in the UK, continue to face challenges."

It was announced in July that Maher was stepping down after 10 years as CEO. She leaves on November 30.

"Brendan has done fantastic work with the Pensions Board in the two years since he joined," said chairman Tiarnan O'Mahoney.

"He possesses the right skill set for this demanding job which includes pensions regulation and policy advice. Brendan will head up a strong executive team and will have the board's full support."
 
Kennedy previously worked in life insurance and in actuarial consultancy. He is a Dubliner and is an actuary by training, the Board added.