The Australian payroll and pensions firms, SuperChoice has appointed Paul Watson as a senior advisory consultant as it looks to expand across the UK.
The fintech provides systems to connect employers, payroll system and pension funds. It has been operating in Australia for a number of years and has growth ambitions in the UK.
Watson has considerable executive and governance experience working across both the Australian superannuation and UK pension industry. This includes the recent position of group executive, member experience at Hostplus, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds.
In previous roles Watson has managed major fund mergers within a mature pension fund market. SuperChoice said Watson has the leadership and operational experience, alongside first-hand knowledge and understanding of the UK’s workplace pension and related regulatory environment. Over a varied career he has built up strong relationships across schemes, policy, regulatory and industry group circles, which has included facilitating strategic engagements and delegations between UK and Australian funds, providers and trustees.
In his new role he will work closely with Clare McHenry, head of SuperChoice UK. SuperChoice is looking to support UK’s pension schemes and other stakeholders as they navigate the Pension Schemes Act 2026 reforms, including Value for Money, small pots consolidation and other measures.
SuperChoice CCO Damien Di Pietro says: “[Watson’s] appointment adds to our capacity and capability in supporting UK schemes and their stakeholders during this important transitional period, where SuperChoice’s focus is on innovation, building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships and uplifting member-focused services and outcomes.
“His leadership and industry knowledge will help to drive growth, enhance our offerings, and strengthen our position in the UK market. His unique experience in superannuation and pensions will be a great asset as we continue to grow and innovate in the rapidly changing UK pensions market.”.
This appointment coincides with a period of significant aUK pension system reforms, regulatory and industry-led initiatives, and policy considerations. SuperChoice says the UK market can benefit from its experience as a key contributor to Australia’s Superstream ecosystem, which has played a central a role in its super system reforms, including payment and data clearing-houses, ‘stapling (‘pot for life’ model) and the interoperability of Australia’s DC system.
Watson says: “I see key parallels, and importantly learnings and opportunities, between Australia’s and the UK’s pension systems evolutions and pathways. I look forward to helping SuperChoice and the UK industry in leveraging our practical experiences from Australia.” He adds that the company will also benefit from its closer association with the UK, and this will “further advance and improve automation, speed, accuracy and security of the transactional lifeblood of the pension system” to help build “the cost-effective and efficient interoperability that the UK wants, needs and deserves.”