The Big Picture
This week’s Leadership Brief shows how leadership rarely moves in isolation. Boardroom decisions ripple across industries, from pensions reform that could change the way millions save for retirement, to luxury brands redefining their financial strategies, to major healthcare groups sharpening their communications leadership, and fintechs navigating regulatory roadblocks. What connects these stories is the demand for leaders who can operate across boundaries: blending fiduciary responsibility with strategic agility, balancing heritage with innovation, and aligning corporate goals with public policy.
Top Leadership Stories
Pensions & Investments
New UK regulation on Collective DC schemes
The UK government is preparing rules to allow multiple employers to enter Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) schemes, with forecasts that this model could boost retirement incomes by up to 60%. (FT)
Why it matters: This reform goes beyond pension mechanics. Trustees and executives will need to balance the promise of higher returns with inter-employer complexity and heightened scrutiny. The challenge for leadership will be building governance frameworks that are robust enough to inspire trust while flexible enough to deliver growth.
UK state pension expected to rise
The UK state pension is projected to increase by around 4.7% from April 2026, reflecting earnings growth. (Independent)
Why it matters: This adjustment benefits retirees but increases pressure on long-term government liabilities. For pension fund leaders, the rise has implications for scheme modelling, member communications, and how occupational schemes are positioned relative to the state safety net.
The Pensions Regulator flags tech & data issues
The Pensions Regulator’s latest oversight report shows that while administrators are more strategic and resilient, weaknesses remain in technology, data, and cyber security. (Pensions Age)
Why it matters: Digital governance is now inseparable from financial stewardship. Leaders must ensure their organisations invest in technology and risk management. Without this, even the strongest investment strategies could be undermined by operational fragility.
People moves in the pensions world
This week saw notable senior appointments, including origination leads at M&G. (JD Supra)
Why it matters: Talent mobility continues to reshape the pensions and investments sector. Boards are actively seeking leaders with fresh perspectives in areas like ESG integration, member engagement, and digitalisation. The competition for such talent is intensifying.
Cross-Industry
Lanvin Group appoints new CFO
Lanvin Group has named Jiyang Han as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 November 2025. (Citybiz)
Why it matters: Finance leadership in luxury is becoming highly strategic. In a sector facing supply-chain complexity, global expansion, and digital disruption, the CFO role is central to growth, capital allocation, and competitive positioning.
Roche appoints new Head of Group Communications
Roche announced the appointment of Nina Schwab-Hautzinger as Head of Group Communications and member of the enlarged Corporate Executive Committee, effective 1 February 2026. (Roche)
Why it matters: Communications is increasingly a board-level issue. At a time when healthcare faces intense public scrutiny, leaders in communications must navigate policy, reputation, and global stakeholder engagement. This appointment underlines how major corporates see communications leadership as strategic to business performance.
Revolut banking licence delayed
Revolut’s long-awaited UK banking licence has been delayed due to regulatory concerns over its global risk controls. (Reuters)
Why it matters: Fintech growth cannot come at the expense of governance. Revolut’s leadership now faces the task of strengthening compliance and oversight to meet regulatory standards. The lesson is clear: sustainable growth in financial services requires credibility with regulators as much as it requires innovation.
Focus: Pensions & Investments, Leadership Brief Deep Dive
CDC reform: The leadership challenge behind scaling pension capital
The UK’s shift to scale up Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) schemes is more than a technical reform, it is a test of leadership. Trustees and executives will need to master three interconnected demands: delivering improved member outcomes, deploying pension capital into growth assets, and navigating political and regulatory scrutiny.
This requires a different kind of leadership. No longer can leaders act solely as fiduciary guardians; they must also become strategic allocators and policy interpreters. For firms like Hoffmann Reed, and for clients across the pensions and investments sector, this means identifying leaders with multi-disciplinary skillsets: investment acumen, governance strength, and public-policy fluency.
Without that combination, the ambition to mobilise pension capital at scale risks falling short. The next 12 months will be a proving ground for those who can balance opportunity with accountability.
From My Desk
Dubai: Global Partner Conference
This week we brought together partners from all 14 Hoffmann Reed offices worldwide for our Global Partner Conference in Dubai. The conversations reflected the challenges and opportunities of leadership in every sector we serve — from pensions to luxury, energy to technology. The common theme was clear: boards everywhere are demanding resilience, agility, and leaders who can perform across borders.
London: Leadership in Luxury at the Italian Embassy
Later in the week, I attended a Tom Ford event at the Italian Embassy in London, hosted by Ambassador Inigo Lambertini and Lelio Gavazza, CEO of Tom Ford Fashion (Zegna Group). The evening was a reminder that leadership is not only about strategy and governance but also about cultural presence and brand stewardship. Leaders in every industry can learn from luxury: voice, identity, and influence matter as much as capital allocation.
Watchlist
How quickly CDC schemes move from regulatory design to practical deployment.
New leadership appointments in luxury, consumer, and healthcare.
How Revolut responds to regulatory scrutiny as fintechs mature.
Final Thought from this Leadership Brief
In today’s environment, leadership is not only about what you manage, it is about how you navigate capital, culture, and regulation simultaneously. The best leaders are those who can operate seamlessly across these domains.
Get in Touch
If you are planning your next senior appointment whether that be in pensions and investments, or in any of the industries Hoffmann Reed serves then I would be delighted to discuss how we can help you secure the right leadership.