Tributes as Local Authority Pension Fund Forum chair Quinn dies aged 56

Councillor Kieran Quinn, the leading pensions figure and chair of the UK’s Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF), has died aged 56.

Quinn, who was also chair of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, passed away on Christmas morning after suffering a heart attack earlier in the week whilst out delivering cards with his wife, councillor Susan Quinn. He leaves two sons.

Quinn was an influential figure in the responsible investment world. As chair of LAPFF – which represents 72 funds with £200bn (€224bn) in assets – he promoted the power of combining local authority pension fund shareholdings to make positive change to corporate behaviour.

And at Greater Manchester Pension Fund he promoted support for impact investment and renewable products.

Quinn was also regarded as one of the architects of devolution for Greater Manchester, which included the region becoming the first in the UK to take control of its combined health and social care budgets – a sum of more than £6bn.

Tributes have flooded in from political leaders. Labour MP for Rochdale Tony Lloyd tweeted: “He was a good socialist, a fighter for Tameside, a proud trade unionist and a great friend. My thoughts are with his family.”

Liam Billington, a Conservative party candidate, tweeted: “Very sad to hear the news about Kieran Quinn. Although we are on opposite ends of politics, he was immensely passionate about Droylsden and Tameside. My thoughts go out to his family.”Tameside Council, where Kieran Quinn was executive leader since 2010, flew flags at half-mast at Dukinfield Town Hall to mark his life.

“He will be difficult if not impossible to replace”

In a statement, it said: “Kieran will be sorely missed. First and foremost he was a great family man rooted in the community of Droylsden and Tameside. A deep belief that everyone was entitled to a good and fair start in life led him to dedicate his life to public service – working for others and the community he loved.”

He was prominent in the new “northern pool” of pension funds and Roger Phillips, chair of the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board, said Quinn’s “energy, drive, enthusiasm and commitment to the pension scheme and its members” would be “difficult if not impossible to replace”.

In one of his last tweets, Quinn noted how the Greater Manchester Pension Fund was to invest in the country’s fourth largest water company. GLIL Infrastructure (in which GMPF is a partner with other UK pension funds) and Dalmore Capital had agreed to acquire a 15% stake in Anglian Water Group from investment firm 3i.