Barnett Waddingham appoints new head of Public Sector

Barry McKay has been appointed as the new Head of Public Sector at Barnett Waddingham (BW).

Barry takes the helm ahead of the retirement of long-standing head Graeme Muir, with the transition marking a new chapter for the firm’s highly regarded Public Sector team, ensuring it continues to provide a seamless and excellent service to its clients across the sphere of all local government services.

With a distinguished career spanning 40 years; nearly 20 at BW, Graeme was instrumental in establishing the team in 2002 before building BW’s Public Sector practice into a trusted partner for a wide range of public sector clients.

Barry, who brings over 20 years of relevant experience in the Public Sector, has worked closely with Graeme since he joined BW in 2018 and is poised to lead the team into its next phase.

The change comes after the recent addition of Alison Murray, who joined the Public Sector team as Senior Consultant in December. Alison’s expertise has further strengthened the firm’s offering, complementing the existing team’s depth and breadth of knowledge.

Graeme Muir, Partner and former Head of Public Sector at Barnett Waddingham, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with LGPS Funds and their amazing people over the last 40 years and am immensely proud of the business we created at BW 20 years ago.

“We are, and have been for quite some time, the second biggest provider of actuarial and related services to LGPS Funds and their employers. The best years of my career were at BW, building up an amazing team of people who I know under Barry’s leadership will continue to thrive and do great things for our clients.”

Barry McKay, Partner and Head of Public Sector at Barnett Waddingham said: “Given recent government consultations and the upcoming funding valuations, I am thrilled to step into this role at such a pivotal time for the LGPS and for BW’s Public Sector team. This marks my 20th year advising LGPS funds which is down to the friendly, supportive environment.

“The strong foundation built by Graeme has positioned us to meet the evolving needs of our clients. I look forward to leading our superb team as we continue to deliver exceptional service.

“With the recent addition of Alison, we’re well-placed to tackle future challenges and opportunities in the public sector landscape.”

Ruth Thomas, Head of Actuarial Consulting at Barnett Waddingham added: “We are incredibly grateful to Graeme for his years of outstanding leadership and dedication. We’re confident that Barry will carry forward this legacy with passion and vision, driving our Public Sector team to even greater heights.”