GLOBAL – Towers Perrin’s Nigel Bateman is to take over the chairmanship of the International Employee Benefits Association.

The association said that Bateman, a member of the IEBA committee for two years, will be chairman until July 2005. He takes over from Simon Dudley, who remains on the board and becomes as vice-chairman. Bateman is head of the UK part of Towers Perrin's global consulting group.

The IEBA sponsors the award of a Diploma of International Employee Benefits, in conjunction with the Pensions Management Institute. The association also sponsors courses, materials and events.

"It is great honour to become chairman, particularly as IEBA approaches our tenth anniversary in 2004,” Bateman said. “I am confident that we will continue the great work that Simon oversaw, with the growth of IEBA's membership and activities to help those working in the international pensions and employee benefits arena."

Bateman is known for his trenchant views. Last month he warned companies not to make rash decisions when dealing with pensions issues – saying there is a danger of being “too decisive”. “A move to defined contribution does absolutely nothing” to reduce defined benefit liabilities, he says.