Northern LGPS appoints chair and chief executive

Northern LGPS, a £70 billion pooled investment partnership formed by the Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire Pension Funds, has appointed Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames as chair and Paras Anand as chief executive of its newly established pool company.

Elizabeth brings extensive experience in governance and asset management, having held senior roles across financial services organisations. 

Paras joins with a strong background in investment management, most recently serving as chief investment officer at Artemis Investment Management.

In their new roles, they will lead Northern LGPS Ltd, overseeing investment activity across partner funds under a unified structure.

Elizabeth said: “It is a privilege to be appointed chair of Northern LGPS Ltd at this important stage in the Pool’s development. 

“The Northern LGPS has an exceptional track record, delivering consistent investment returns, significant savings and sustained investment into the UK economy over the past decade. 

“My priority will be to ensure that NLGPS will continue to build on those foundations with the governance, financial discipline and strategic clarity that an organisation of this scale and responsibility demands, particularly in this changing regulatory landscape.

“I look forward to working closely with Paras and his leadership team to ensure we continue to lead, and deliver, for our members, our regional partner funds and the wider sector.”

Paras added: “I am delighted to be appointed chief executive of Northern LGPS. 

“The Northern LGPS Pool has established an outstanding record, and I am committed to ensure we continue on this path with the governance standards and strategic focus that our members and partner funds rightly expect.  

“We are at an exciting juncture in the evolution of the pensions sector in the UK where the organisations tasked with safeguarding the retirement incomes of millions of workers have the opportunity to play a significant role in how the overall investment industry in the UK develops. 

“I am ambitious about seeing Northern at the leading edge of this while keeping responsible investment, long-term value creation and the financial security of our members at the heart of everything we do.”

The appointments mark a key step in establishing the leadership team as the organisation strengthens its governance and supports long-term investment performance.

Councillor Eleanor Wills, chair of the Northern LGPS Oversight Committee, added: “The establishment of Northern LGPS Ltd, and the appointments we are announcing today, represent a significant moment for the Pool and for our partner funds. 

“We have always been clear about what this organisation exists to do – to deliver strong, long-term returns for our members, to invest responsibly and productively in the UK economy, and to do so with the highest standards of governance and stewardship.

“Elizabeth and Paras bring the experience and the credibility needed to take that work forward. 

“We are confident that under their leadership, Northern LGPS will continue to deliver a best-in-class fund for our members, for the local communities our funds serve, and for the wider UK economy.”

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