IG&H welcomes Wouter van Straten as new Director Financial Services - Pensions

Utrecht, September 30, 2025 – Wouter van Straten (40), former Group Director of Operations & Service at Athora, has joined consulting- technology company IG&H as Director Financial Services - Pensions. With nearly two decades of experience in the financial sector, Wouter brings deep expertise in business development and operations. 

His career began at SNS REAAL, where he progressed from a traineeship to the corporate strategy team, continuing through acquisitions, divestments and nationalization. He later held senior roles at VIVAT/Athora NL and Athora Group, where he led strategic initiatives including the sale of the insurer, transformations, integrations and digitalization.  

At IG&H, Wouter will use his strategic insight and operational experience to help clients navigate pivotal changes in the pension sector. He will focus on supporting insurers, pension administrators and funds with board-level decision-making in response to regulatory, market and cost-driven pressures.  

Van Straten: “I want to bring the experience I’ve gathered back to the market in a broader sense. Current market conditions demand decisive action. Boards face critical choices, and I’m excited to help guide that journey. Now is the moment to do something different, not yesterday, not tomorrow. Pensions are a long-term product, and my intrinsic motivation is to make a positive impact because these changes are unbelievably important for society at large.” 

In addition to his professional background, Wouter brings a top-sport mentality from his years playing hockey at the highest level, and nowadays with triathlons.  “1% improvement each day adds up. In a few years, that’s a significant impact. A mindset that focuses on results and collaboration is something I look forward to applying at IG&H.” 

Frans Liem, Managing Director Pensions IG&H: “In the rapidly changing pension sector, having someone on board who is used to dynamic environments and can push boundaries is worth its weight in gold. With his experience in the sector and his sporting mentality, Wouter can add a lot of value for our clients in successfully implementing their strategy into operations.”