The veteran arrives from Canadian National Railway as the plan builds out administration it took in-house last year
The University Pension Plan has appointed Pierre Charette as chief pension services officer, a role overseeing member and employer service delivery, pension administration, and operations.
Charette will lead UPP's Pension Services function and oversee changes to the plan's service model, according to a release from the plan.
UPP said he will also oversee continued implementation of its operating model.
He starts as the Toronto-based plan builds out in-house administration after its first full year of directly serving members in 2025, work that has included spending on its pension administration system, digital platforms, employer experience, and onboarding.
Charette joined UPP in August 2026, his LinkedIn profile shows.
He spent nearly four years at Canadian National Railway Co., serving as director, pension and benefits from March 2023 to July 2026, and holding an interim director role covering pension, benefits, and occupational health and safety in 2024.
Before CN, he spent more than 31 years at Willis Towers Watson.
His profile lists him as senior director in Toronto from 2014 to 2022, leading 35 retirement consultants, and earlier as retirement leader in the Montreal and Toronto offices, where he ran actuarial and administration businesses of 100 and 225 staff respectively.
He also led actuarial and small-plan administration for WTW's Chicago market from 2008 to 2010.
In a LinkedIn post, Charette said he intends to spend his early months listening and learning.
UPP manages roughly $13.5bn and serves more than 46,000 members across six universities and 21 sector organizations.
