Fraser Smart
Managing Director, UK
Fraser has overall responsibility for Buck in the UK, its second largest global practice. Previously he managed Buck's Edinburgh and Manchester offices, having joined Buck in 2006.
With more than 20 years' of industry experience, Fraser is the consulting actuary for several of Buck's major U.K. corporate clients, advising on all aspects of pension provision and has introduced a number of tools to help clients manage their pension arrangements.
Fraser frequently speaks at industry conferences, is regularly quoted in the media and has been a lead examiner for the actuarial profession. He is a graduate of Edinburgh University and a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
PRACTICE LEADERS
Investment
Steven White, Managing Director, Global Investment Consulting
Steven White is responsible for developing Buck's Global Investment Consulting business, integrating and enhancing resources across the U.S., U.K., Canada, and other countries to provide innovative investment solutions to a wide range of clients.
Steven joined Buck Consultants in September 2005 as head of Buck's U.K. investment consulting team, managing a small group of analysts and consultants. This team has since grown to be a well-resourced, highly-qualified, and experienced group of around 30 investment professionals, providing advice to U.K. pension funds with assets totaling more than $12 billion. Steven managed Buck's actuarial and pension consulting business in London from 2007 until 2010 and is a Director of Buck Consultants Ltd.
Steven spent six years researching and teaching pure mathematics, completing a doctorate in mathematics at the University of Edinburgh in 1990 before starting his actuarial career. He holds the Certificate in Financial Planning, and is an FSA-Authorised Investment Adviser in the U.K.
Actuarial
Mark Stocker, Principal and Senior Consulting Actuary
Mark is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries with over 25 years' pensions consulting experience. He is a member of the Council of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and chairs a number of their committees. He is head of the actuarial practice, a UK Board member and manages Buck's London office.
As well as his background as a trustee adviser, Mark provides advice to companies in connection with their pension schemes. This includes M&As, dealing with the Pensions Regulator and scheme redesign. The insight given by this experience is extremely valuable when entering into discussions with employers, helping trustees conduct them in a constructive and pragmatic way.
Mark graduated from Oxford University in 1984 with a degree in mathematics.
Benefit consulting
Geoff Ashton, Principal and Senior Benefit Consultant
Geoff has 34 years' experience in pensions; all gained within Buck Consultants. Geoff manages a portfolio of clients, many of which are household names, and is a Fellow of the Pensions Management Institute. He is head of the benefit consultancy practice, a UK Board member and manages Buck's Ipswich office.
Geoff has extensive consultancy experience and has overseen a number of scheme mergers and benefit reviews from both an employer and trustee perspective
DC and wealth
Philip Smith, Principal
Philip graduated from the University of Kent in 1985 and spent 14 years in a variety of consulting roles with a national benefits consultancy, including sales and marketing for Friends Provident.
He joined Buck Consultants in January 2001, bringing a wide experience of defined contribution (DC) pension design, as well as expertise in the area of group life, disability and related benefits.
Philip has advised a variety of clients from large multinationals to smaller owner-managed businesses. He has particular expertise in implementing 'bundled' DC pension solutions and has extensive knowledge of the major providers' DC pension products.
Global Technology & Administration
Vinny Ehzuvan, Head of Global Technology & Adminstration
Based in London, Vinny is responsible for enhancing the delivery of Buck Consultants' pension administration, flex and total reward service offerings by leveraging our global technology and scale of resources.
Vinny joined Buck Consultants in 2000 with a proven track record in customer service operations, and process and technology management, from a leading international employee benefits firm. His area of expertise is the reengineering of processes to make them more efficient and streamlined, whilst maintaining a framework of quality and best practice.
Vinny graduated from City University (London) in 1991 with a Degree in Chemistry.
Vinny is a member of the Global Administration Leadership team responsible for coordinating HR outsourcing and technology sales throughout Buck and ACS operations, which span across 100 locations and 60,000 employees.
MARKET LEADERS
London
Mark Stocker, Principal & Senior Consulting Actuary
As above
Reading
Mark Brind, Senior Benefit Consultant
Mark joined Buck in 1998 and has over 18 years' experience within corporate pensions. He is an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute and holds the Diploma in International Employee Benefits and the Financial Planning Certificate. He is consultant and client manager to some of our key UK and multinational clients, with a mixture of defined benefit and defined contribution arrangements.
Mark manages a team of consultants across both the Reading and London offices. This team is focused on providing quality and efficient consultancy and secretarial services to a wide range of our clients.
Ipswich
Geoff Ashton, Principal & Senior Benefits Consultant
As above
Manchester
David Piltz, Principal & Consulting Actuary
David has 14 years of experience in the pensions industry, all with Buck Consultants. He qualified as an actuary on 2002 and is Scheme Actuary and account manager to a number of Buck's key UK clients.
David took on responsibility for Buck's Manchester office in 2010 and also is a member of Buck's UK Actuarial Committee. David also has national responsibility for account management development across all Buck service lines.
Edinburgh
Karen Theobald, Principal & Senior Benefit Consultant
Karen's role includes responsibility for the delivery of consultancy advice across the Edinburgh and Manchester offices. She provides full consultancy services to a range of clients and is an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute. Karen took on responsibility for Buck's Edinburgh office in 2010 and is also a member of Buck's UK consultancy committee.
Karen has experience of working with clients from a broad range of business sectors, including manufacturing and service industries and has also previously worked within the Buck Consultants Technical department providing specific technical advice to clients on a wide range of matters.
