Dear PensionBee team,
As I reflect on a phenomenal 2018, in which PensionBee grew its customer base over 3x to c.30,000, it seems there is no better way to reflect on the last 12 months than to spend some time thanking you for all your hard work.
Jonathan, I’ll start with you. Since embarking on this journey 4 years ago, you have been the technological backbone of PensionBee and so much more. 2018 was no exception as you did a remarkable job transforming our pension system on Salesforce, launching our native app and putting us at the forefront of the open pension revolution. Thank you tech team, for the unending drive to be the best, for the late nights, early mornings and everything in between that made sure our customers got the best from PensionBee’s product.
Jasper, I’ll turn to you next. I know you still feel like we’re sitting in that bathtub when you look around our now small office and see we’ve grown to 40. Like you, I sometimes look back at the pictures from day 1 in our little room and I must admit — it is PensionBee fashion to grow so quickly you are busting at the seams! 2018 has been your year. As CMO, you have led our marketing and product strategy to become the UK’s most loved pension brand. The marketing and product team has been a powerhouse of customer activity, taking feedback and insights straight from those who matter most — our customers — and translating it into their pension experience. Thank you for the unrelenting focus on what our customers want.
Clare, it’s been a whirlwind 2018 for you. You’ve launched 5 (!) open banking partnerships, expanded the B2B line with me and of course fought the battle we all wake up for in the morning: to make pensions better for consumers. I’m confident that we will get a pension switch guarantee, public information of switching times and the right kind of pension dashboard. And we will have led on those movements thanks to you.
Tess, you are PensionBee’s moral compass and chief culture carrier (or Chief Christmas Officer, as you were recently known!). You took on the huge challenge of running PensionBee operations during an unprecedented period of change and growth. The operations team has adapted to everything thrown your way, making sure our BeeKeepers and Nectar Collectors are well-equipped to give our customers the PensionBee love. Because you know that’s what it’s all about. You are building the next set of PensionBee leaders and a prime example is Emily, our very new Head of Talent. Emily, you have made our unique way of hiring into the A-team of BeeKeepers and Nectar Collectors — our Program — the foundation of great customer service. I’m excited about where you will take this next as we build out the kind of company and culture that reflects our values of honesty, innovation, love, quality and simplicity.
And last but most certainly not least, our A-team of BeeKeepers and Nectar Collectors. Every time I read one of your inspiring Trustpilot reviews I am reminded of the extraordinary lengths you go through to make sure our customers can enjoy PensionBee, whether they are finally taking control of their pensions by combining them, topping up as they look forward to a good retirement or drawing down so they can enjoy the fruits of their hard work.
Yes, 2018 is a year of thanks and it is a year we will look back on fondly as we face the challenges of 2019, whether those are market headwinds, the sheer impact of tripling in size (again!) or the most important challenge of all: staying true to ourselves and our mission of making pensions simple and engaging for all.
Here’s to 2019!
