The Pensions Regulator appoints new auto-enrolment director
05 May 2020
Following the departure of Darren Ryder in early 2020, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has confirmed, in a press release, that it has appointed Mel Charles as its new director of Automatic Enrolment (AE).
Mr. Charles has worked for TPR since 2011, initially within a role primarily focussed on the design and delivery of AE. He led the ‘TPR Future’ programme which tailored the company’s approach to regulation, resulting in it becoming ‘clearer, quicker and tougher.’
Mr. Charles will be responsible for ensuring the continued long-term success of AE and he will be tasked with supporting businesses through the outbreak of coronavirus, and also through the period in which people are able to return to work. A key part of this support will be helping employers to continually meet their AE responsibilities, and to protect the millions of workers who save into a workplace pension, despite the current challenges posed by COVID-19.
At present, approximately 10.3 million people are saving or newly saving into a pension as a result of AE, and over 1.6 million employers have enrolled their staff into a workplace pension.
The Chief Executive at TPR, Charles Counsell, said:
“I am extremely pleased that Mel has been appointed to lead our automatic enrolment team, particularly in these challenging times. Mel played a key part in the initial rollout of automatic enrolment which has been a huge success that we at TPR are extremely proud of.
Mel was also at the forefront of TPR’s work to sharpen our approach to become the clearer, quicker, tougher regulator that we are today. I am confident his wealth of experience and skill will be invaluable in maintaining the success of AE, so that savers receive the pensions they are entitled to, now and in the future.”
Mel Charles, himself, stated:
“I am very proud to be returning to TPR’s automatic enrolment operation as its director, but I could never have predicted that my re-introduction would be in the incredibly difficult circumstances created by COVID-19.
Like many organisations in the UK, we are in a period of constant review and change. We will continue to make sure that our guidance and regulatory activity is proportionate as we support employers to meet their responsibilities to provide pensions for their staff.
Despite the current challenges, we must not lose sight of the fact that automatic enrolment is a long-term commitment to savers that has required the combined effort of Government, employers, pension schemes and a range of other service providers to deliver.
It is my privilege to be leading the team responsible for protecting those savers as they work towards their retirement.”
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