Rekha Menon takes over as pensions director

A 10-year veteran of the Anglican Pension Office Corporation has been named its new leader.

Rekha Menon, who came to the pensions office a decade ago and was most recently its deputy director and compliance officer, has been named pensions director, effective Jan. 1. Speaking to the Journal in November 2022, Menon said she was excited to take on her new job, succeeding Judy Robinson, who was to retire at the end of 2022 after 19 years in the role.

She said her experience with the office had given her a very good understanding of the pensions and benefits it oversees. “I also take pride in the goodwill that I have built with participating employers across Canada and with the national office of the Anglican Church of Canada, the plan members and our internal staff,” she said.

Menon said the General Synod Pension Plan, which has roughly $1 billion in assets under management, was in a “very healthy” position. She pointed to Council of General Synod’s approval in March of a nine per cent increase in pensions accrued to the end of 2021, which took effect July 1, 2022.

Born and raised in Kerala, India, Menon has worked as a company secretary in the pharmaceutical and automobile sectors as well as the pension industry and has a bachelor’s degree in commerce. She worked in India and the United States before joining the Anglican Church of Canada’s pension office, her first job in Canada.

“I feel like I know the culture of this organization and I plan on making it even more robust and nurturing, motivating and inclusive” as pensions director, Menon said.

General Secretary Archdeacon Alan Perry said Menon’s selection as director followed an extensive search for the right candidate.

“In her time as compliance officer and, more recently, deputy director, Rekha has always been competent, efficient and unfailingly cheerful,” Perry said. “I look forward to her leadership of the pension office in the years ahead.”