Press release 23 April 2026

The Northern Local Government Pension Scheme Pool has today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames as Chair and Paras Anand as Chief Executive Officer of Northern LGPS Ltd (NLGPS) subject to FCA approval.

The appointments establish the leadership of one of the largest and highest-performing local government pension pools in England and Wales, managing approximately £70 billion in assets on behalf of 870,000 members across Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire.

The NLGPS will manage the investment management activity from three existing partner funds - the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Merseyside Pension Fund, and West Yorkshire Pension Fund, under a single, professionally governed structure, a requirement of new Government reforms into Local Government Pension Schemes.

The reforms will allow the Pool to seek FCA-authorisation, and will seek to drive better value for members, scheme sponsors and local taxpayers, while supporting domestic economic growth. The responsibility for pensions administration and the funding of liabilities remain with each authority.

Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames, appointed as Chair, brings substantial senior governance, asset management and large pension scheme experience to the role with a strong record of leading complex, large-scale organisations across professional services and financial sectors. 

Accomplished in both executive and non-executive roles, including within her position as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director at Sarasin and Partners LLP, Renshaw-Ames’ previous positions include Chair of the Aviva Master Trust, non-executive Chair of Barnett Waddingham LLP and Chief Executive Officer of the HSBC Bank (UK) Pension Trust. 

Speaking on her appointment, Renshaw-Ames 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 Anand, appointed as Chief Executive Officer, brings extensive senior investment management experience, reflecting the Pool's commitment to continuing its successful track record. Most recently, Anand was Chief Investment Officer at Artemis Investment Management managing £30 billion in client assets. Prior to this, he held multiple investment roles including Chief Investment Officer for Asia Pacific at Fidelity International, overseeing investment functions across the region, including Japan and China, responsible for over $250 billion in client assets.

Anand said:
“I am delighted to be appointed Chief Executive Officer 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 Northern LGPS Pool consistently rates among the highest-performing pools in England and Wales on investment returns, value for money, and productive UK investment. It leads nationally on local and regional investment, directing capital into projects and businesses that support economic growth across the partner fund areas. To date, more than £26 billion - around 43% of pool assets - has been invested into the UK economy.

Cllr Eleanor Wills, Chair of the Northern LGPS Oversight Committee, said,
"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."

The Northern LGPS Pool serves 870,000 members and works with over 1,200 contributing employers, with average pensions paid to members amounting to approximately £4,500 per year. It represents approximately one fifth of total LGPS assets in England and Wales.