Anthony Arter was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Pensions ombudsman Anthony Arter, former Investment Association chair Keith Skeoch and the Redington co-founder Dawid Konotey-Ahulu are among those recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List 2023.
Arter - who is both pensions ombudsman and Pension Protection Fund ombudsman - has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to the pensions industry and charity.
Skeoch - the former chief executive of Standard Life Aberdeen who chaired the Investment Association until September last year and led the government's ring-fencing and proprietary trading review which reported in March - received a knighthood for services to the financial sector.
Konotey-Ahulu - a former barrister and investment banker who co-founded investment consultancy Redington in 2006 and was a co-founder of the 10,000 Black Interns Initiative - was awarded a CBE for services to diversity and inclusion.
Arter became pensions ombudsman in May 2015 having formerly worked as head of pensions practice at Eversheds Sutherland and as its London senior partner.
He will step down from his role once his term ends on 15 January, becoming interim deputy pensions ombudsman to support the new ombudsman, Dominic Harris, with the transition.
Reacting to his award, Arter said: "It was completely unexpected. I felt humbled when I read and re-read the letter. I would like to thank the dedication of all my staff at The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) and what we have collectively achieved as one team, and also everyone that has helped me in my charity work over many years, which are very special memories.
"Having advised pensions clients over many years I understood the importance of the brilliant service provided by TPO, both for the pensions industry and the public in its ability to resolve a pensions issue impartially and binding on all parties."
He added: "I've had the fortunate position to build upon its excellent reputation, shaping its future and making the public more aware of the important service it provides to protect people's retirements."
Pensions Dishonesty Unit
Arter also spoke about his work establishing the ombudsman's Pensions Dishonesty Unit - which aims to hold those that have unlawfully taken members' pensions life savings to account and to make them repay the monies they have taken along with interest and awards for distress and injury.
Speaking about the unit, Arter said: "The number of individual cases I have dealt with is heart-breaking and underlies the importance of The Pensions Ombudsman's power to judicially determine cases of dishonesty. This unit is of vital importance to members who have lost all their pension savings.
"For me personally, it has been very satisfying to have been able to take on such cases and to provide a remedy for those who have lost so very much."
Charitable work
In addition to his pension work, Arter is also dedicated to helping children in need, having volunteered for charities including Kids Company and Barnardo's.
Speaking about what inspired him to dedicate years of volunteering, Anthony said: "We had very little with my brother and I growing up in a one parent family, but I was very lucky because what we did have was a close loving relationship. Having succeeded in my career I felt a strong need to work with those who did not have that support.
"It is a jungle for those children who grow up without any help or guidance and I have been very fortunate to have been in a position which enabled me to become involved in various charities, for example Kids Company, Barnardo's and Business in the Community, where I was able to provide support and help those in need."
Between 2019 to 2021, Arter was also a mentor under the Cabinet Office/Saxton Bampfylde REACH mentoring programme for senior civil servants who have mental or physical disabilities.
More recently, he has become involved with Action for Children as a pro-bono trustee director of the Action for Children Pension Fund.
