Yesterday marked the retirement of one of the UK pensions industry's most senior members, Will Mather, who has just retired as group pensions executive of the Imperial Tobacco pension fund.

Andrew Kirton, global chief investment officer of pensions consultant Mercer, said: "Will Mather is one of the under-sung heroes of the UK pensions investment industry. He has done a first rate job for Imperial Tobacco. He's a real gentleman, too."