9 February 2005 - The Pensions Regulator: Appointment Of The Non-Executive Directors
The first non-executive Directors of The Pensions Regulator have been confirmed today. The appointments were announced by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Alan Johnson following recommendations from David Norgrove, Chairman of The Pensions Regulator.
Alan Johnson said:
“I am delighted to appoint the following people to be the first non-executive Board members of The Pensions Regulator:
Laurie Edmans
Alan Pickering
Chris Swinson
Caroline Thomson
Roger Walsom
“Individually, each Board member will bring high levels of essential and desirable skills from their differing careers. Between them, I am confident that they offer a wide and impressive blend of knowledge, skills and experience, together with a strong commitment to supporting The Pensions Regulator.
“For the new regulatory body to succeed in its statutory objectives of protecting members' benefits, improving standards of administration and limiting calls on the Pension Protection Fund, it is crucial that we have an active and engaged Board that is able to help the organisation to meet the strategic and operational challenge of regulating in a proportionate and pro-active way.”
The Board will take up their new position immediately and move forward on key governance AND business strategy areas. The Pension Regulator will come into existence in April.
Notes for editors
- As outlined in the Pensions Act 2004, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Chair of TPR, is required to appoint the first non-executive members of the Board of The Pensions Regulator. The Pensions Act can be found at: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/20040035.htm
- As these are public appointments to a new executive Non-Departmental Public Body, DWP is required to follow the appointments guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA guidance) and these appointments were regulated by OCPA to ensure that the appointment process was open, transparent, and consistent.
- Brief background of the successful candidates:
- Laurie Edmans: currently a member of the OPRA Board, who joined when the process for change towards a new Pensions Regulator was beginning (2002) and has been involved in the formative thinking. Has had a career in financial services; starting in administration and sales, and is currently the Corporate Development Director of AEGON UK. Laurie also chairs the Pension and Savings Committee at ABI.
- Alan Pickering: began his career as a junior railway clerk. Joined EETPU in 1972, working for twenty years on a range of members’ interests, including pensions and personal finance. Joined Watson Wyatt as a partner in 1992. Specialises in occupational pension schemes, Chairman of NAPF (1999-2001) and Chairman of the European Federation for Retirement Provision (2001-2004), currently on board of Pre-Retirement Association (PRA) and is Chairman of Plumbing Industry Scheme. DWP commissioned him to report on ‘Simpler Way to Better Pensions’ in 2002, which recommended the establishment of a new kind of regulator.
- Chris Swinson: formerly senior partner of BDO Stoy Hayward. Served as a member of the ICAEW council and was president in 1998/99. As Chairman of the Regulation Review of the accountancy profession between 1995 and 2000 he managed the development of proposals for the regulation of the profession, which were then implemented. Currently works as an expert witness in financial cases.
- Caroline Thomson: Head of Corporate Affairs at Channel 4 between 1990-95, she became Deputy Director of BBC World Service before becoming Director of Policy and Legal at the BBC in 2000. She has been a trustee of the BBC pension scheme, and is currently leading the BBC Charter Review team.
- Roger Walsom: a partner at Ashurst, the leading firm of City solicitors. His career has spanned the worlds of commercial and financial services, including mergers and acquisitions, financing, insolvency, insurance, employment and other issues.
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