OPB announces new President & Chief Pension Officer

Earlier this year, we shared our careful approach to OPB’s upcoming leadership changes as we prepare for the retirement of our Chief Pension Officer (CPO), Peter Shena, early next year and our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mark Fuller, at the end of 2024. As part of this approach, the Board retained executive search firm LHH Knightsbridge to recruit for a transitional position of President & Chief Pension Officer, with the intention that the successful candidate would ultimately become OPB’s new President and CEO at the end of 2024 when our current CEO, Mark Fuller, retires. Today, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Darwin Bozek to the transitional position of President & Chief Pension Officer. Darwin will join OPB on February 1, 2024, as the first step of our phased leadership transition.

“Darwin has extensive public sector and pension experience, a passion for the defined benefit model and a strong commitment to delivering excellent client service. As an experienced executive leader, Darwin’s proven ability to deliver business results while supporting a positive, inclusive, and values-based culture makes him the right candidate to lead OPB upon Mark Fuller’s retirement.” – Geri Markvoort, Chair of OPB’s Board of Directors

Darwin is a seasoned pensions executive with more than 30 years as a senior leader in public service. Since 2017, he has served as President & CEO of Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APS). His former roles include Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Alberta Treasury Board and Finance; Controller for the Province of Alberta; and Chief Financial Officer for the Alberta Investment Management Corporation.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a major in Accounting from the University of Alberta, is a Member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta, graduated from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Directors Education Program (DEP), completed the Senior Public Sector Leader Program at Western University’s Ivey Business School, and in 2020, was awarded the Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta (FCPA) Designation.

How the transition will work

When he joins OPB in February, Darwin will initially work alongside Peter Shena and the Pensions group to gain a deep understanding of the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP). While Peter will retire from his position as CPO this coming spring, he has agreed to be available throughout 2024 as Chief Transition Officer to assist us with a smooth transition and to provide leadership continuity on critical projects.

Darwin will work closely with Mark Fuller as they together prepare for Darwin’s transition to President & CEO, ensuring there is an effective knowledge transfer for all critical functions within the organization.

Darwin will lead the selection of the permanent CPO, whom we expect to start before the end of 2024.

We are confident that this multi-phased approach will ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Our continued commitment to clients

We have taken a thoughtful and deliberate approach to this succession plan to ensure that throughout the transition and beyond, we continue to deliver excellent service, protect the pension promise and advance our strategies to continually enhance the retirement planning experience for members.

Media contact:
Michael Lockhart
Senior Manager, External Communications & Digital Experience
416-601-3906
michael.lockhart@opb.ca
www.opb.ca