Robert Waugh,

Date joined the Mastertrust Board: July 2023 

Mastertrust specialisms: Independent Chair of the Mastertrust Trustee Board; sits on the Investment Committee.

Skill set: Investment management; extensive experience in defined benefit and defined contribution pensions

Bio: Prior to this role, Robert was Chief Executive Officer and co Chief Investment Officer of the Natwest Pension Scheme. Robert was instrumental in the turnaround of the funding position post the global financial crisis, closing the deficit. He oversaw the outsourcing of the administration and the digitalisation of the member journeys, taking the retirement journey from many weeks to 20 minutes.

Robert has extensive Defined Contribution pension experience having chaired the RBS Retirement Saving Plan. He has been a non executive on the investment committee for the Department of International Development, a board member of the Cost Transparency Initiative, and is currently an investment committee member of the Carnegie Trust of Scotland.

Earlier in his career, Robert was Head of UK Equities at Scottish Widows Investment Partnership for seven years, having spent the previous 15 years as an equity fund manager at UBS Phillips and Drew.

Robert is passionate about members’ experiences and member outcomes, and a keen believer in the role of universal ownership in improving society for future generations.