On the go: The Pensions Regulator has appointed Mel Charles as director of automatic enrolment, following the departure of Darren Ryder earlier this year.
In his new role, Mr Charles will be responsible for leading TPR’s work in this area, including supporting employers as they navigate the current challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, while helping them to continue to meet their AE responsibilities.
Mr Charles has worked in this space since 2011, when he joined the regulator to play a central role in the design and delivery of the AE programme.
In his most current position as head of compliance and enforcement, Mr Charles led the TPR Future programme that redesigned the organisation’s approach to regulation, challenging it to become “clearer, quicker and tougher”.
Prior to joining the watchdog, Mr Charles was head of risk management at the then Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and was also head of resource management at the Department for International Development. He is also a qualified solicitor and began his career in private practice.
Charles Counsell, TPR’s chief executive, said: “I am extremely pleased that Mel [Charles] has been appointed to lead our AE team, particularly in these challenging times. Mel played a key part in the initial rollout of AE, 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.”
Mr Charles said: “I am very proud to be returning to TPR’s AE operation as its director, but I could never have predicted that my reintroduction 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 AE is a long-term commitment to savers that has required the combined effort of the government, employers, pension schemes and a range of other service providers to deliver.”
Previous director of AE, Darren Ryder, left his role earlier this year to develop similar systems in other countries.
This article originally appeared on ftadviser.com
