Isio appointed by the Trustees of the Scottish Widows Master Trust

6^th February 2024: Isio has been appointed by the Trustees of the Scottish Widows Master Trust as its investment adviser. Selected through a competitive process, Isio will advise on default design, asset allocation, manager selection and risk management to elevate the Master Trust’s investment proposition for its defined contribution (DC) member base.

Isio was chosen for the quality of its DC offering, as well as its deep expertise and credentials in defined benefit (DB) and public sector investment advisory, which will be leveraged to enable the Scottish Widows Master Trust to benefit from innovation from across the pensions landscape. As part of its appointment Isio will advise the Trustees on the evolution of their investment proposition, including expansion into newer sources of return, such as private markets.

The Isio team will be led by partner David O’Hara, who brings extensive experience of sophisticated investment solutions across the pension scheme universe.

Andrew Warwick-Thompson, Chair of the Scottish Widows Master Trust added: “We were impressed by the breadth and quality of Isio’s investment advisory expertise, particularly in alternative asset classes. We are excited to be working with them alongside our partners to develop our investment proposition for the benefit of our members. It is vital that we are connected to the best ideas and latest thinking, and we are confident that this appointment puts us in an ideal position to benefit from world class institutional investment expertise.”

Sharon Bellingham, Scottish Widows Master Trust Lead commented: “Driving investment innovation enables us to evolve at pace to provide investment solutions that address our members’ current and future needs. Our focus is on helping them to secure the best possible retirement outcomes at the same time as we deliver on our Mansion House commitments.” 

Isio Partner, David O’Hara said: “I am looking forward to working closely with the Trustees on an investment strategy which will secure the position of the Scottish Widows Master Trust as one of the very best DC investment solutions in the industry. We will lean on our rich heritage in both DB and DC pensions to support a proposition that reflects and achieves the real-life objectives of the Trust’s members, against a complex and evolving investment backdrop.”