Sipp and pensions admin provider Xafinity has recruited Mark Barlow from PwC to help drive the growth of the pensions business.

At PwC he was an actuary specialising in pension scheme liabilities and he has over 13 years’ experience in the pensions sector. He worked on the pensions aspects of RBS’s work to ring-fence the bank and also has experience of working in-house on secondment to large clients. He will be based in Leeds and is a firm believer in effective communication with members, having led many exercises to communicate pensions changes.

He has a broad range of experience that he will be able to draw on with his clients at Xafinity, including advising on pensions aspects of corporate transactions, working on secondment with a £20bn pension scheme and advising banks on managing their pension arrangements. 

Paul Cuff, co-CEO of Xafinity plc, which has 400 employees, said: “We were really pleased when Mark decided to leave PwC and join our growing team. His no nonsense approach and forward thinking will be a great asset to the Xafinity Group." 



“His work will see him aiding scheme members to access their benefits with the full flexibilities that freedom and choice allow, something that as a firm we are passionate about.”
 
Mr Barlow said: “I have been very impressed with Xafinity and what the new management team has achieved, especially since the IPO. The culture is very different from its peers and that was an exciting prospect for me. 

“The pensions sector is changing quickly and I am looking forward to working within a business that is disrupting accepted practice and helping trustees and schemes make a difference for members.”