Towers Watson has appointed Ashu Bhargava as a senior director in its retirement business.
Bhargava joins from Clara Pensions, where he worked as chief origination officer for almost seven years. He has also worked for L&G as director of strategic transactions.
In this new role he will be focused on helping clients across the wide range of pensions risk management opportunities now available, including superfund transactions.
Bhargava is re-joining Towers Watson, having previously spent 16 years at the company prior to 2016. While working for Towers Watson, now a WTW company, he advised both trustees as scheme actuary and scheme sponsors across the full range of pension issues.
Towers Watson head of retirement Rash Bhabra says: “As Clara’s chief origination officer [Bhargava] led discussions with numerous trustees and sponsors around how superfunds can provide a more affordable way to improve member outcomes.
“These discussions initially took place whilst superfunds were just a concept and ultimately culminated in proof of concept through the UK’s first few superfund transactions.
“At all three firms, Bhargava has led projects that have focused on cost efficiency and improved member outcomes and have won industry awards for their innovation.”
Bhargava adds: “Trustees and sponsors now have much more choice when deciding how to implement solutions that meet their unique scheme requirements.”
