The Pension Protection Fund (PPF), the statutory fund established under the provisions of the Pensions Act 2004, has appointed Lansons to provide communications and external relations support on a retainer basis.

The PPF protects millions of people in the UK who belong to defined benefit pension schemes in case their employer, or former employer, fails and can no longer afford to pay their promised pension. The brief, awarded by PPF to Lansons, followed a competitive pitch process.

Lansons will provide strategic communications advice, press office management and media relations support. The team will be led by Clare Anderson and include Tony Langham and Shirley Collyer, with support from Maddy Morgan-Williams and Leonie Furman.

Richard Williams, head of corporate affairs at the PPF, comments, “We are looking forward to building a close partnership with Lansons as they work with us to promote and protect our reputation. It was a competitive and exhaustive pitch process and we were delighted to conclude it by appointing Lansons. We were particularly impressed with the team and their vision for how our external presence should develop over time.”

Clare Anderson, board director at Lansons adds, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with the PPF to help develop its reputation and build greater understanding about the security it offers millions of defined benefit scheme members. This is particularly important at a time when the UK pensions industry is under the spotlight. We want the PPF to have the credit it deserves and to be held up as a role model around the world.”