Linda K. Stone was named senior pension fellow by the American Academy of Actuaries on Thursday.
Ms. Stone replaces Ted Goldman, who is now director of policy, research and analysis at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.
Ms. Stone worked at Willis Towers Watson and its predecessor firms for more than 25 years, most recently as retirement practice leader for the East region until 2010.
She has been actively involved with groups including the American Benefits Council, the non-profit Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, and the Forum of Executive Women.
Ms. Stone's role at the American Academy of Actuaries includes helping to shape and communicate its work on pension, Social Security and other retirement security issues.
"With a variety of experience in both private practice and non-profit roles, Linda brings a deep knowledge that will add valuable, objective actuarial perspective to the contemporary dialogue on retirement policy issues," said Mary Downs, executive director, in a statement.
Ms. Stone said in an interview that she looks forward to working on retirement issues such as access and decumulation. "The fact that there is attention (on Capitol Hill) to these matters is encouraging," she said.
Testifying in February before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Ms. Stone said she was struck by how lawmakers of both parties spoke passionately about retirement issues affecting people they know. "When people have that personal experience, they know it's a problem. That gave me hope that they might understand the sense of urgency," she said.