Smart, the London-headquartered fintech for the global retirement savings market, has appointed Guy Opperman, former UK pensions minister, as senior adviser.
Opperman served as parliamentary under-secretary for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 2017 and 2022, with his focus primarily centred around pensions and financial inclusion, followed by his role as minister of state for employment in the DWP between 2022 and 2023.
Most recently Guy served as minister for roads and local transport in the Department for Transport (DfT) between 2023 and 2024.
As the UK’s longest serving pensions minister, Opperman was responsible for the expansion of auto enrolment and master trusts, pioneering CDCs, and changing the structure of the UK pensions system significantly during his time in office.
He has a rich understanding of the pension challenges faced by governments with ageing populations, and deep knowledge of the technical solutions required to solve these issues. This alongside a proven commitment to financial inclusion means he is uniquely placed to guide Smart through the next stage of its international growth as pension reform is rolled out across the globe.
Prior to his five years serving in ministerial roles in the Department for Work and Pensions, Opperman spent two decades as a practising barrister, later joining the Government as MP for Hexham, followed by roles in the Home Office, and as a lord commissioner of Her Majesty’s Treasury.
The appointment follows other recent senior hires within Smart’s commercial and technology departments as well as in advisory capacities, as Smart reaches a pivotal point in the growth of their retirement saving platform, Keystone. Smart’s technology offering has become particularly pertinent in recent years as pension legislation rapidly develops around the world.
Smart’s technology provides an ideal solution to manage large-scale workplace retirement savings plans efficiently, currently managing over £15bn in AUM globally.
Opperman said: “I am delighted to be joining Smart. They are genuinely unique in their approach and their offer. They are brilliantly led, and have positive solutions to the retirement savings issues facing governments, employers and individuals worldwide. As pension legislation changes around the world, great technology has the ability and scope to deliver better outcomes for individual savers and societies as a whole.
“I’m looking forward to helping the team grow Smart’s technology, Keystone, where it currently touches 10 million people around the world.”
Andrew Evans, co-founder and group CEO of Smart, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Guy to Smart where he’ll support us in scaling our retirement saving technology offering internationally. He played a crucial part in the rollout and expansion of auto enrolment in the UK that originally led to the development of our unique technology, and understands the scale of the complexities faced by policy-makers and providers alike, in solving the issue of retirement provision globally.
“Guy’s in-depth experience and clear passion for financial wellbeing will be invaluable as we continue to deliver for savers around the world.”
