Pension Fund

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Wood Pensions Plan

Wood Pensions Plan was established in 2016 as the defined benefit and defined contribution arrangement for Wood Plc. Sir Ian Wood founded the sponsoring...

Wood Pensions Plan logo

Wood Pensions Plan

Wood Pensions Plan was established in 2016 as the defined benefit and defined contribution arrangement for Wood Plc. Sir Ian Wood founded the sponsoring employer and remains linked through family philanthropic vehicles. The plan allocates to private equity via limited partnership interests in Dunedin Capital Partners Buyout Fund and Coller Capital Secondaries Fund. It also holds direct real estate exposure through the Newcastle Estates Portfolio and an inflation-linked property portfolio, both located in the United Kingdom. Fixed income mandates are run by PGIM, AXA and Royal London Asset Management, while Mercer provides the primary growth vehicle for the defined contribution default strategy. Assets total 3.5 billion USD according to internal records. The trustee board includes independent directors from Ross Trustees Services Ltd. XPS Investment and Isio Group serve as investment advisors. In October 2024 the plan participated in the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Ceremony in New York. Governance is shaped by statutory requirements of The Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund. The structure separates the pension liabilities from the operating company now owned by Sidara following its 2026 acquisition of John Wood Group PLC.

General information

Firm type

Pension Fund

Year founded

2016

Location

Region

Europe

Country

United Kingdom

City

Knutsford

Corporate office

Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, United Kingdom

Principals

Mervyn Walker

Independent Chair of the Trustee Board

Elaine Hanna

Senior Retirement Manager

Sector focus

Private EquityReal EstateFixed Income

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Wood Pensions Plan?

Mervyn Walker serves as Independent Chair of the Trustee Board. Elaine Hanna leads the in-house retirement team. XPS Investment and Isio Group act as external investment advisors.

Does Wood Pensions Plan participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The plan holds limited partnership interests in Dunedin Capital Partners Buyout Fund and Coller Capital Secondaries Fund. It also maintains direct ownership of UK commercial property assets.

What asset classes does Wood Pensions Plan target?

Allocations include liability-driven investments in gilts, UK commercial and inflation-linked property, buyout and secondaries private equity, and buy-and-maintain credit mandates.

Where does the underlying wealth come from?

The plan is sponsored by John Wood Group PLC, the engineering services company founded by Sir Ian Wood.

How is Wood Pensions Plan related to The Wood Foundation?

The Wood Foundation and The Wood Foundation Africa are separate philanthropic entities established by Sir Ian Wood and his family. They are not part of the pension plan structure.

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