Published: January 23, 2026

We are pleased to confirm the appointment of Paddy Dowdall as Investment Director for Local Investment, further strengthening our Private Markets leadership team at a pivotal time for UK pooling.

Paddy will join us in early April, reporting to Nadeem Hussain, Head of Private Markets. He will be responsible for leading our approach to local investment, working closely with Partner Funds and a wide range of stakeholders to deliver against evolving investment strategy requirements.

This appointment comes as LGPS Central continues to grow, representing 15 Partner Funds with significant local investment already committed at both Fund and Pool level. With assets under management expected to represent around £100 billion, the focus will be on building on these strong foundations and supporting Partner Funds to develop and meet their local investment objectives.

Paddy brings extensive LGPS experience, with almost 14 years at Merseyside Pension Fund followed by a further 12 years at Greater Manchester Pension Fund. His career spans a wide range of investment and governance roles, giving him a deep understanding of local authority pension funds from a Fund perspective.

Local investment is expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting local economic development, with funds balancing risk and return alongside social and environmental impact. It also has the potential to deliver meaningful outcomes across critical assets and services throughout the UK.

In his role, Paddy will work closely with Partner Funds, combined authorities, Homes England, the National Wealth Fund and a wide range of local delivery partners, helping to translate government ambition into investable opportunities.

Commenting on his appointment, Paddy said:

“This is an exciting new challenge. My immediate priority will be getting to know all 15 Partner Funds and gaining a deeper understanding of where each is on its local investment journey. Implementing the Pensions Act is a key focus, and I am looking forward to working collaboratively to deliver outcomes that meet both fiduciary and local objectives.”

Jayne Atkinson, Chief Investment Officer, added:

“This is a strong hire for LGPS Central. Paddy brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted understanding of local investment from a Fund perspective, which will be essential in supporting our Partner Funds to deliver on their local investment objectives in line with government ambition. He will hit the ground running, including developing a local investments team to deliver for our Partner Funds.”