The Association of Member-Directed Pension Schemes (AMPS), the industry body representing SIPP operators and SSAS practitioners, has today revealed Claire Trott of St James’s Place Group has been appointed as its new chairman.

Alan Finch of Rowanmoor will continue in the role of honorary secretary with Tasneem Ul-Haq of Aviva and Joy West of Hartsfield Trustee Services Ltd acting as honorary treasurer and membership secretary respectively.
 
Following the committee meeting on 20 November, the full committee consists of:

• Geoff Buck – DP Pensions Limited
• Kelly Cullum – ILAG
• Alan Finch – Rowanmoor
• Samina Kausar – Investment Funds Direct Limited (Ascentric)
• Claire Trott – St James’s Place Group
• Tasneem Ul-Haq – Aviva
• Zoe Smith – Barnett Waddingham LLP
• Sarah Hawkins – PSFM SIPP Limited
• Joy West – Hartsfield Trustee Services Ltd
 
Commenting on her appointment Claire Trott, AMPS chairman, said: “You cannot deny that the pension sector and in particular SIPP and SSASs have been in the spotlight. 

“There is continued regulatory change and focus and it is important that as the industry body for SIPP and SSAS firms, that we have a clear focus on what our members need and what they are concerned about.

“It is important that we unite the industry and are engaging with the relevant regulators. 

“As a committee, and with our sub-committees, we will continue the good work undertaken over many years and ensure confidence in the self invested sector.

“A key challenge and focus for me as chairman is to work with the committee to revamp the communication with our members, ensuring that they are fully up to date with what the committee are doing, key issues they should be aware of and any on-going dialogue we are having with the regulators.

“I welcome any and all input from our membership on topics that they feel need addressing.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have served on the committee in recent years and thank our previous chairman, Zachary Gallagher for all the hard work he put in over the years as both chairman and in his previous roles.

“We will continue to hold our popular events and seminars and the dates for these are 21 May 2019 and 8 October 2019, both of which will be held at a new venue of 1 Wimpole Street.”