The chief executive of the Money Advice Service has been appointed at the helm of The Pensions Regulator.
Charles Counsell will join TPR as chief executive in April after the departure of Lesley Titcomb, who announced her resignation in May and will be stepping down in February.
The Pension's Regulator is in the process of implementing a new tougher approach to pension regulation, as it seeks to ensure more than 30 million members of workplace pension schemes are properly protected.
The regulator was heavily criticised for its role in the Carillion collapse, with MPs accusing it of making "hollow threats" and failing "in all its objectives".
But it later stressed Ms Titcomb's decision to leave was unrelated to those pressures.
Mr Counsell was appointed chief executive of the Mas in June 2017 after Caroline Rooke's departure.
But this will not be his first role at The Pensions Regulator, as he had spent six years as executive director of automatic enrolment before joining the Mas, where he was responsible for the UK roll-out of this programme.
It emerged earlier this month former pensions minister now director of policy at Royal London, Sir Steve Webb, had also been also in talks for the role.
Mark Boyle, chairman of TPR, said: "I am delighted that we have appointed someone of Charles Counsell’s calibre to drive forward our significant change programme. Charles was the architect of the automatic enrolment programme which has helped shape our approach to the changes we are now implementing to become a clearer, quicker and tougher regulator.
"I know that Charles will lead the organisation with his trademark energy, determination and passion. Charles is a delivery-focused leader who gets the job done which is exactly what we need at this crucial time."
Mr Counsell added: "The work that TPR does is ever more important in a world where millions more people are saving into workplace pensions.
"The pensions landscape is changing. With more people saving into defined contribution than defined benefit pensions, individual savers rather than employers are bearing most of the risk.
"That makes the job of TPR even more important as it ensures that members are protected and those responsible for running schemes are both supported and held accountable. It is such an exciting time to join TPR and I relish the challenge and opportunity to work with a great team to make a real difference for savers."
carmen.reichman@ft.com
