BrazilHeleen Vaandrager joins Deloitte's pension practice as a partner
Big Four giant Deloitte has appointed a new partner in the Netherlands: Heleen Vaandrager.
The 59-year-old new partner kicks off today with her new adventure, and brings nearly three decades of experience in the pensions industry to Deloitte. Prior to joining, she worked at Aon in several leadership roles, latterly as Chief Commercial Officer at Aon Retirement Solutions, en previously as board member of the Retirement and Financial Services practice of Aon Hewitt.
Earlier in her career, Vaandrager worked more thans six years at Aegon, among others as Regional Sales Director within the Global Pensions division, and nearly twenty years at Generali in Brussels. “We are delighted to welcome Heleen to our team,” said Robert-Jan Hamersma, who leads Deloitte’s Dutch Benefits & Pension Advisory practice.
Vaandrager will focus on helping players in the pension sector and corporates with transitioning to the new Dutch pension system (coming into effect in 2023). “The new legislation is complex. It won’t be easy for pension institutions and companies to make the transition. But it at the same time also offers a great opportunity for employers and employees.”
She provides one such example of the new pension system: “Employers will then be able to give give their own substance to the agreement. This includes shaping their policy to reflects their values. For example, they can give employees more flexibility, allow them to save more for their pensions, offer part-time retirement or extra days off.”
Deloitte is one the leading consultancies in the Dutch pension landscape. In the content of the new system, the firm’s consultants help clients with designing new schemes to meet the needs of all stakeholders. The firm also supports with the process of reaching agreement on a new scheme: “A new package requires lots of consultation with the Works Council, the Participation Council and trade unions. Some departments in multinationals must also consult their head offices.”
Another major challenge is pension communications. “As employees are given more options, they also need to be better informed about their choices and their consequences. Employers have a large responsibility in helping their people make the right decisions during their pension journey.” The role of technology is key in this regard, and Deloitte has a technology team that can build and implement the needed solutions.
Further expanding on Deloitte’s pull, Vaandrager said: “Deloitte has a great reputation in our industry. We are currently advising hundreds of large multinationals and pension boards at a strategic level about their benefits and pensions. The firm’s portfolio is holistic, from strategy and technology to project and change management.”
“I also chose Deloitte because diversity and inclusion are high on our agenda. I have always worked from the conviction that diversity contributes to the success of a team. A more diverse team is more creative and looks at problems from multiple angles. I also believe that everyone should be given the same opportunity to use his or her qualities.”
