Western Pension Solutions (WPS), the specialist pensions consultancy working with family businesses, has appointed former KPMG pensions expert Jon Sharp as a new director.

The company says Mr Sharp’s recruitment will provide further expansion of WPS’ expertise and reach in the sector and follows the appointment of David Dickson as non-executive chairman earlier in the year.
 
Ben Fowler, managing director of WPS, said: “There are few true pensions specialists in the UK family business sector, which is why we are so pleased to welcome Jon on board.

“The industry has many unique nuances, meaning it is crucial to understand the particular needs of these companies – a skill that Jon has in abundance, along with his substantial pensions knowledge. He is very well known and respected in family business circles and will be a valuable addition to our work.
 
“At an important time for family businesses trying to manage their legacy final salary schemes, we feel our independence and values, by the fact that we have come from a family business ourselves, mean we are perfectly placed to provide solutions that really work. Jon and David’s appointments not only consolidate these credentials, but our continued regional growth means we are able to offer local experts to businesses with their own specific needs.”
 


Mr Sharp, previously at KPMG, added: “I have been aware of WPS’ unique specialisms, having encountered them a great deal in the industry since their inception. Having always felt their particular expertise and understanding of the family business sector were an ideal match for the needs of these firms, I am very pleased to have joined the team.”
 
He joins with over 15 years’ experience as a pensions adviser, regularly helping family businesses on all aspects of pensions strategy. He joins from KPMG where we worked as the pensions director, focused on advising privately-owned organisations. Prior to this he worked for PwC in senior consultancy roles. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and a member of the Institute of Family Business working party on pensions.
 
David Dickson joined WPS earlier this year. Previously he spent 25 years with Garbutt & Elliott, where he was a senior partner, after working for KPMG.

Western Pension Solutions (WPS) is owned by the Vestey Group. It provides strategic and practical advice to family businesses on how to manage and fully de-risk their legacy defined benefit pension arrangements. It was founded in 2015, following the successful transfer of £500m of pension liabilities from the Vestey balance sheet in a series of bulk annuity transactions with Rothesay Life.