Club Vita is delighted to welcome Sarah Harper [Director of the Oxford Institute of Ageing, and Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford] and Peter Thompson [former NAPF Chairman] as the first two non-executive directors on the Supervisory Board of its longevity research firm, Club Vita. The Supervisory Board will be responsible for guiding Club Vita’s research activities and ensuring the integrity of data security processes.  Peter Thompson will chair the Supervisory Board.

Club Vita is the new community for trustees of occupational pension schemes, conducting ground breaking research into pensioner longevity. The Club, currently in its pilot stage with a full launch planned for November, will provide members with scheme-specific longevity analysis based on their unique member make-up. Its subscription services will provide trustees with a novel, practical and unique way of managing longevity uncertainty, through quick statistical analysis that enables incremental changes to reserving.

Sarah joins Club Vita from the Oxford Institute of Ageing and the University of Oxford, where she is Professor of Gerontology. Sarah has also recently been Global Advisor on Ageing Issues to HSBC, co-editor of the Journal of Population Ageing and Governor at the Pensions Policy Institute.

Peter is an independent trustee with over 30 years’ pensions experience, and a former Chairman of the NAPF (2001-2003), having previously been a member of its council (1994-2005).

“We are delighted to welcome Sarah and Peter, with their combined wealth of relevant experience, to the board of Club Vita,” commented Nick Flint, Chief Executive of Club Vita. “Sarah’s experience as a social gerontologist brings yet another perspective to our research.

“Peter’s work with the NAPF adds yet more strength and depth to what is already an acclaimed project for the pensions industry. His considerable experience working with high profile institutions and committees makes him an ideal Chair of the board.  With the board strengthened by the appointments of both Sarah and Peter, we will quickly demonstrate the impact specific longevity calculations can have for  each scheme on its own.”

Douglas Anderson, partner, Hymans Robertson, commented: “I am really thrilled that people of the calibre of Sarah and Peter have joined Club Vita.  I was delighted that Club Vita captured their imagination in the same way as it has been received by the many trustees who have joined us in our pilot.”

Club Vita has now closed its pilot stage with over 100 pension schemes participating. The full launch for Club Vita is planned for November, and membership will be open to all schemes with more than 1,000 pensions in payment.