Anne Henderson will be the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.’s next participant and plan sponsor advocate, the agency announced Jan. 7.
Henderson, who currently serves as senior adviser in the PBGC’s policy and external affairs office, will start her new position Jan. 12. She will replace Constance Donovan, who retired in August after serving nearly 11 years as the PBGC’s first advocate.
The advocate office works directly with participants in private-sector defined benefit plans to ensure they receive the benefits to which they are entitled from the PBGC. The office also assists plan sponsors in resolving disputes and other issues with the PBGC and provides valuable input and recommendations to the PBGC board of directors related to the PBGC's operations and work, according to a news release.
The advocate works independently of PBGC departments and reports directly to the PBGC’s board. The advocate submits a report to Congress annually on the activities of the office and makes recommendations, including legislative changes, to address problems and improve the agency’s mission, the PBGC noted.
“Improving customer service has been the common thread of my federal career,” Henderson said in a statement. “I look forward to building on the efforts of the previous advocate and with Camille and Emily in the office of the advocate to ensure that PBGC continues to serve its customers by providing the board and Congress with an independent perspective and outlook on PBGC and the defined benefit pension system.”
In addition to the advocate, the office includes two other staff members: Camille Castro, senior associate participant and plan sponsor advocate, and Emily Spreiser, associate participant and plan sponsor advocate.
Henderson joined the PBGC in 2008 as the agency’s communications and web content manager. During her PBGC career, she also served in temporary assignments in the benefits administration office, and the policy, research and analysis department.
