Remembering Graeme McAusland and Welcoming Nigel Hill

In April, we were saddened by the passing of Graeme McAusland, our former Independent Managing Trustee and Chair of the Trustees. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Graeme was widely known and respected across the financial services and funeral planning sectors, and his experience, professionalism and contribution to the industry will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries, Graeme had more than 35 years’ experience in the financial sector.

His distinguished career included serving as Non-Executive Chair of Metfriendly, Non-Executive Director of The Medical Defence Union, where he chaired the Audit and Risk Committee, and Chief Executive of both The Children’s Mutual and the Funeral Planning Authority.

Nigel Hill has now joined as a Managing Trustee of the Distinct Funeral Plan Trust. Nigel brings more than 30 years’ experience as a professional trustee and over 45 years in occupational pensions, with extensive knowledge of prepaid funeral plan trusts, pension schemes, governance and working with regulators and professional advisers.

His appointment adds significant trust management expertise to the trustee team, alongside a practical, governance-focused approach to supporting plan holders and stakeholders.

We are pleased to welcome Nigel and look forward to working with him in his new role.