Barnett Waddingham appoints four new Managing Partners

Barnett Waddingham (BW), a leading independent UK professional services consultancy has appointed four new Managing Partners to help lead its ambitious growth strategy.

The appointments of Alex Pocock, Scott Eason, David Stoddard and Sam Meldrum come after a year with the strongest organic growth in BW’s 35-year history and are key to its ongoing plans to maintain excellence within the pension schemes market while further strengthening its diverse offering to clients across risk, insurance, and investment. 

Alex Pocock now assumes leadership and strategic oversight for BW’s pension scheme and investment services. Alex has an in-depth understanding of the pensions market and will utilise this experience to identify existing challenges and opportunities which in turn should help ensure that BW clients continue to be provided with a compelling service offering. 

Alex joined BW in 2004 and has advised some of the largest pension schemes in the UK, including several well-known master trusts and standalone trust-based schemes – with experience advising DC schemes ranging up to £25 billion, serving millions of members, as well as advising large DB schemes.

Scott Eason now assumes leadership and strategic oversight for BW’s wider areas, which includes Risk Consulting, Benefits Consulting, Insurance & Longevity Consulting, Pensions & Executive Management, Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP) and Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSAS).

Scott previously led the Insurance & Longevity Consulting business for almost ten years, specialising in investment strategy and risk management for insurance companies. 

 David Stoddard takes the lead on BW’s future strategy and transformation plans, ensuring that they remain client and colleague focused, while maintaining the impressive rate of growth.  

David plays a key role in shaping BW’s longer-term areas of strategic focus and engagement with the pensions, risk, insurance and investment markets to help it meet its long-term objectives as an organisation. He brings more than 25 years of experience to the role, working in a number of strategic leadership roles across the financial services industry. 

Sam Meldrum now takes on responsibility for designing and delivering BW’s Strategic Business Solutions and infrastructure that support its overall client offering, while ensuring it remains sustainable, effective and efficient. 

Sam has oversight of Business Development, Central Operations, Finance, Governance & Risk, Marketing, People, Property and Technology. Sam has six years of board-level experience at BW and was Head of IT for 17 years.

Barnett Waddingham Senior Partner Andrew Vaughan (pictured above) said: “I am delighted to announce the appointments of Alex, Scott, David and Sam to the roles of Managing Partners. These changes to BW’s leadership come as part of our commitment to further elevate the services we provide to pension schemes while cementing our ongoing success in our wider service offerings across risk, insurance and investment.

These four appointments shine a light on the huge wealth of experience and knowledge within BW, and our commitment to nurturing and developing the talent within the firm.

These crucial appointments will enable BW to deliver the best possible outcomes for its clients moving forward and I am excited to be working with Alex, Scott, David and Sam on our ambitions plans.”

Barnett Waddingham (BW) is proud to be a leading independent UK consultancy at the forefront of risk, pensions, investment and insurance. 

BW comprises of over 1,750 people, 98 of whom are partners, each delivering on BW’s values and promise, ensuring the highest levels of trust, integrity and quality. They are based across nine offices nationwide: Amersham, Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Glasgow, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool and London. 

Everything BW stands for is embedded in its promise, to do the right thing. This meaningful principle is applied across all aspects of the business with continued success. Being free from any external stakeholders allows it to take a long-term view with all clients and the freedom to bring fresh ideas to the table.

The consultancy’s exceptional client experience was rated gold in 2023 for the fourth time running by Investors in Customers. Best Companies also listed BW in the top 100 companies to work for including 13th in the Financial Services category, as well as awarding a two-star accreditation out of three in 2022.