A veteran pensions expert, whose career spanned over five decades, is retiring.

Adrian Walker is leaving his role as retirement planning expert with Old Mutual Wealth after 27 years, it was announced today.

He has been at Old Mutual Wealth since October 1989.

He started his financial services career in 1977 working with both Schroder Life and Vanbrugh Life in helping to deliver pension solutions to the adviser marketplace.

He will be replaced by Ian Browne, who will take over as head of retirement proposition marketing in January.

Over the past 27 years, Mr Walker has been responsible for the development of the company’s retirement proposition for advisers and clients.

Mr Walker said: “Over the past 30 years the pensions industry has been subject to a huge quantity of changes. However, looking back to when I started, the landscape doesn’t look that different from where we are now.

“The continual tinkering with rules under the name of pension simplification has resulted in politicians breaking long term commitments regarding the future structure of pension saving, leaving customers and advisers confused. We need a time of stability and I would like to see fewer changes for an extended period of time.

“As for me, I’m looking forward to a period of travel and golf, but no one really retires anymore. I doubt I’ll be an exception to the trend and expect that I’ll still be contributing to the industry over the next few years.”

Ian Browne joins Old Mutual Wealth from Axa Life Invest where he has been for the past two years.

Most recently he was the group’s UK propositions manager and pension and regulatory specialist. Before Axa he worked as a product proposition manager for Sun Life Financial Canada and a Technical Support Consultant for Ecclesiastical Insurance Group.

Mr Browne said: “I’m pleased to be invited to join Old Mutual Wealth. This is an exciting time for the business and for the pension industry. Old Mutual Wealth is known for its great work with the adviser community. I look forward to working with Jon Greer and the pensions specialists across the business to contribute and continue that effort.”