Top of the Towers

Top of the Towers

TOWERS Watson has appointed Jo Kite as the head of its pensions and benefits practice in Scotland and she will be based in Edinburgh.

Ms Kite, a qualified actuary who will be based in Edinburgh, has more than 20 years' experience in the pensions and insurance industry, having worked at Aviva, Delta Lloyd, and Standard Life.

Towers Watson describes her as an expert in the design and delivery of defined contribution (DC) pensions, investments, and other reward and risk solutions, focused on employees' emerging needs up to and through retirement.

John Ball, UK head of pensions at Towers Watson, said: "Like elsewhere in the UK, our clients in Scotland face a wide range of pension and benefit issues such as the closure and de-risking of final salary schemes, offering DC solutions that meet company and employee objectives and the development of appropriate benefit strategies to meet the challenges and opportunities associated with an ageing workforce and the increasing need for flexibility at retirement.

"Jo's appointment will help our clients with these issues and her hands-on experience in developing solutions to the pension and benefit challenges adds a tremendous resource to our Scottish business."

It adds up in Glasgow

SCOTTISH accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael has recruited Hugh Boyle as a director in its Glasgow office.

Mr Boyle, who joins after spending 12 years at Glasgow-based Kelvin Partnership, will work in general practice business solutions team at his new employer. He makes the move with Delia Greenshields, who was part of his team at Kelvin.

Mark Houston, Johnston Carmichael's managing partner for Glasgow, said: "Hugh is a dynamic and experienced professional who will add further depth to the team in Glasgow. His appointment, along with his colleague Delia's, comes of the back of further growth in our business and our ongoing commitment to invest in quality people."

La Bonne femme

GLASGOW brasserie La Bonne Auberge has appointed its first female restaurant manager. Diana Espersen has joined the restaurant, based at the Holiday Inn Glasgow Theatreland, from the Watergate Bay Hotel in Cornwall.

Ms Espersen has held roles in the industry around the world, from front desk agent in Shanghai and to management trainee at The Setai in South Beach Miami. She worked as assistant restaurant manager at the InterContinental Park Lane before moving to the Watergate.

Ms Espersen said: "I very much enjoy working in the corporate world, in the IHG (InterContinental Group) type of hotel environment, but whilst I found London just too big, I'm already enjoying the buzz of Glasgow city centre, where there are all the benefits of operating within a busy corporate environment, without the downside of working in London."

Katrine is PR chair

KATRINE Pearson of Glasgow-based 3x1 Public Relations has been appointed chair of The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Scotland group.

Ms Pearson, an associate director at 3x1, succeeds Laura Sutherland, who has stepped down after two years in the role. Ms Sutherland will remain involved as a co-opted board member.

Ms Pearson's appointment came as the group's Scottish commitment reported its highest ever level of membership. She said: "I'm looking forward to working with what is a very strong and diverse committee to deliver on behalf of our Scotland members in the coming year."

Jenifer Stirton, a former chair and director of marketing and communications at the Student Loans Company re-joins the committee as vice chair, while Fiona Wilson, head of news at the Scottish Government, takes over from Joe Walton as group secretary.

Treasurer Grant Thoms remain in his role for the a third term.