29 October 2023
Cartwright, the pension specialist for defined benefit and hybrid schemes, today announced the appointment of Barry Widdows as Senior Investment Consultant. Based in Devon, Barry will also be responsible for heading up the firm’s new local presence in the Southwest and driving business initiatives and expansion in the area.
Sam Roberts, Director of Investment Consulting at Cartwright, said: “We’ve had a large client base in the Southwest for some years, and now felt like the right time for some permanent on the ground presence to be closer to our local client base and maximize on new opportunities in the area. Having a regional base is paramount to what we are trying to achieve as an orgaisation – delivering first class service excellence to schemes all over the UK. A team on the ground in the area clearly demonstrates our commitment to this, and having the right people in place is crucial.”
Roberts continued: “We see how the industry is changing and we recruit ahead of demand with the foresight to be proactively prepared for those changes by being well resourced. As important as resources is diversity – of background, expertise and skillset – so we can create a well-rounded workforce that can handle whatever challenges may arise, and so our clients can continue to receive the best service and achieve the best outcomes possible. Barry brings just that – he has a hugely accomplished and extensive background in asset management and will be a fantastic enhancement to our investment team at a critical time for pension funds.”
Barry Widdows, Senior Investment Consultant at Cartwright, said: “Pension funds are going through extensive reevaluation of their investment portfolios, and decisions, following the fallout of last year. It’s an exciting time for positive change for many schemes and it’s extremely rewarding to be part of that strategic planning and decision making. Cartwright has long championed the need for bespoke, not off the shelf, solutions to best meet individual scheme and member needs. This has never been more important for the industry. I’m looking forward to working with a team that promotes and supports this creative and adaptable approach for the benefit of clients, and helping drive our regional office expansion.”
Over the course of his career Barry has held significant roles across leading organisations. At the start of his career he held roles at AXA, Mercer Investment Consulting and Insight Investment, before spending 12 years at Blackrock leading the portfolio management for the Global Market Strategies Group. He then joined Prudential as Head of Multi Asset Portfolio Management. Preceding his appointment at Cartwright, he was building out the investment process for Chetwood Investment Management.
Barry is both a qualified actuary and a CFA charterholder.
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