JOHN LISTER ANNOUNCED AS NEW CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Posted on July 17th, 2025

• John Lister brings almost a decade of non-executive experience and over 30 years in executive roles at Aviva Group.
• He will lead the Board in supporting the Executive through its next strategic phase, build on existing strong relationships with Partner Funds, and act as an ambassador to peers and wider stakeholder groups.
• Appointment announced as Border to Coast publishes its Annual Report, which outlines the progress made in delivering on its mission in the year to 31 March 2025.

Border to Coast Pensions Partnership (“Border to Coast”) has announced John Lister will become its new Chair on 1 October 2025, replacing outgoing Chair Chris Hitchen.

Approved unanimously at Border to Coast’s AGM (16 July), the Chair appointment was announced alongside the publication of the pool’s Annual Report and Accounts. This details progress in 2024-25 including surpassing £55bn of Partner Fund assets overseen or managed, a cumulative £178m in cost savings, and the launch of funds such as UK Opportunities and Climate Opportunities II.

John brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record of leadership, with almost a decade as a non-executive across many large financial services firms. Most notably, John spent four years as Chair of Phoenix Group Life Companies and five years prior to this as non-executive director. He has strong leadership experience across the financial services sector both as an executive – spending over 30 years with Aviva Group including roles as Chief Risk Officer at Aviva plc and Chief Financial Officer at Aviva UK Life – and as a non-executive.

John will join Border to Coast on 1 September as Chair-elect and as Chair from 1 October, subject to FCA approval. He will lead the Board through the pool’s next strategic phase, building on existing strong relationships with Partner Funds and acting as an ambassador to a range of stakeholders.

Cllr George Jabbour, Chair of Border to Coast Joint Committee said: “Chris Hitchen has been instrumental in establishing Border to Coast and overseeing its success to date and I look forward to continuing to work together until he steps down in September.

“Following a competitive search, we’re really pleased to have John joining Border to Coast. This is a critical appointment for the Company as it enters its next strategic phase and faces into new Government requirements on the future of the LGPS and pooling.

“Throughout the selection process, John demonstrated clear alignment with our purpose and values, and he has a high calibre of skills and experience which will place us on excellent footing for the organisation’s next chapter.”

John Lister added: “I’m arriving at Border to Coast at an exciting time of change in the LGPS. As a key actor in UK investment, private markets, and responsible investment, it’s clear that the impact Border to Coast – and its Partner Funds – can have in the coming years can be greater than ever. I look forward to playing my part, alongside a talented and committed team that really have put Partner Funds at the heart of everything the organisation strives for.

“I enjoy working for companies that make a positive impact on society and Border to Coast firmly fits that mould. It’s built to enable the payment of pensions to over a million UK workers but seeks to do this though positively performing assets that can also deliver value to society. As one of the largest investors of its kind, its increased scale is helping it find innovative ways to power start-ups, deliver local investment and drive UK growth.”

While at Aviva, John spearheaded numerous community initiatives to improve his home city of York, including acting as Chair of employee-volunteering charity York Cares from 2008 until 2012. He is currently Chair of The Place Development Board and is a Trustee of the York University Pension Scheme. He has four grown up children and in his spare time supports his hometown club Norwich City. He studied Statistics at the University of Wales, Cardiff and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

Border to Coast’s Annual Report details its purpose and mission: to make a difference for the LGPS. It achieves this by working in partnership through innovation, expertise, scale, and good governance. The report outlines the progress made in delivering on this mission in the year to 31 March 2025, including:

• Responsibility for the management or oversight of £55.4bn of Partner Fund assets (85% of combined total assets).
• Delivered £178.7m of cost savings since 2018.
• The launch of UK Opportunities, investing in productive finance assets across the country, and Climate Opportunities II, investing in the long-term potential of energy transition assets around the world.
• Its commitment to people and its supportive, learning culture gaining recognition as a Sunday Times Best Place to Work (Medium Organisation).
• The strengthening of its Executive team with senior hires including Chief Risk and Chief People officers.
• The successful development of the £1.2bn UK Real Estate Fund, one of the top ten largest real estate funds in the UK at launch.
• Providing a collaborative, partnership-wide response to the Government’s Fit for the Future consultation.

To read the report and accounts in full, click here.

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