Heywood, a leading provider of pension technology solutions, has announced that it has been selected by Imperial County Employees' Retirement Services (ICERS) to deliver a comprehensive pension administration modernization programme.
Heywood, a leading provider of pension technology solutions, has announced that it has been selected by Imperial County Employees' Retirement Services (ICERS) to deliver a comprehensive pension administration modernization programme.
The appointment marks the latest significant customer win for Heywood in the North American market, further strengthening the company's growing presence within the US public retirement system sector.
Under the agreement, Heywood will work with ICERS over the next two and a half years to progressively implement its fully integrated technology suite, including the Altair pension administration platform, i-Connect employer portal, Engage member portal with personalized video statements, and Insights analytics capability. The solutions will be delivered through Heywood's secure US-based cloud infrastructure.
ICERS is a well-funded and highly regarded retirement system serving Imperial County employees and retirees for more than seventy years. Throughout the procurement process, ICERS placed a strong emphasis on identifying a technology partner that could support its commitment to exceptional member service while providing a secure, future-ready platform capable of delivering operational efficiencies and long-term value.
The integrated nature of Heywood's platform was a key differentiator, enabling automation and streamlined administration processes that will allow the ICERS team to spend more time supporting members and helping improve retirement outcomes. Security, compliance, and data governance were also important considerations as ICERS evaluated potential partners.
Beyond the technology itself, ICERS highlighted the strength of Heywood's team, experience, and collaborative approach throughout the selection process as key factors in its decision.
Sian Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Heywood, said:
“We are delighted to welcome ICERS as a customer and partner. This appointment reflects the growing demand amongst US public retirement systems for modern, integrated technology that improves both operational efficiency and member outcomes.
What stood out throughout our engagement with ICERS was their unwavering focus on delivering the very best service to their members. Their commitment to continuous improvement aligns perfectly with our own values, and we are excited to support them on this important transformation journey.
The ICERS decision also demonstrates the strength of our end-to-end platform and the investment we have made in supporting retirement systems across North America with secure, scalable technology and local infrastructure."
Scott Jarvis, Retirement Administrator at ICERS, added:
"Our priority throughout this process was to find a long-term partner that understood the unique needs of public retirement systems and shared our commitment to serving members. We were looking for a solution that would modernize our operations, improve efficiency through automation, strengthen security and compliance, and ultimately allow our team to spend more time supporting our members.
Heywood's integrated platform, proven experience, and the quality of the team gave us confidence that they were the right partner to help us achieve those goals. We are excited to begin this transformation and look forward to working together over the coming years."
The implementation program is already underway, with the first phases of the modernization project now in progress.