Pension Lab appoints new chair and non-executive director

Pension Lab has appointed Kevin Okell (pictured, left) as non-executive director and Steve Goddard (pictured, right) as chair to strengthen its board. 

Steve Goddard has over 30 years of experience in the pensions industry, covering administration, governance and the master trust market. 

He is managing director of Goddard Perry, CEO of HS Trustee, and founded the Salvus Master Trust, which was bought by Cushon in 2020 and is now NatWest Cushon.

Goddard said: “Transfer and consolidation journeys are coming under sharper scrutiny, and pensions dashboards will heighten expectations on how firms support consumers to make informed decisions. 

“The FCA’s CP25/39 consultation reinforces that shift. Pension Lab helps providers and schemes deliver more consistent, measurable transfer and consolidation journeys, and I’ll support the team as it deepens partnerships across the market.”

Kevin Okell is known for his background in financial services technology. 

He founded Altus Consulting in 2005 and grew it into a specialist consultancy and automation business for the advice, investment and pensions sectors, before leading it through its acquisition by Equisoft.

Okell said: “Transfers and consolidation should be designed around consumer outcomes – clearer information, fewer friction points and a smoother end-to-end journey.