The Pensions Regulator

Senior staff change at Pensions Regulator

Ref: PN08-07
1 April 2008

The Pensions Regulator today confirmed that Charlie Massey, Executive Director for Strategic Development, is leaving the regulator after completing a three-year secondment from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Speaking about his time at the regulator, Charlie Massey said: “It has been a real privilege helping to lead the Pensions Regulator during its first three years of operation. In my view the regulator has done a great job of putting in place a risk-based and proportionate approach to the regulation of work-based pensions. I will miss the professionalism, dedication and friendliness of everyone in the organisation and wish them well for the future.”

Charlie Massey is returning to the Department for Work and Pensions to take on the role of Capability Director, looking particularly at how the Department builds its capability in the three crucial areas of leadership, strategy and delivery.

Chris Dobson, currently Director of Corporate Development at the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority, is joining the regulator as an interim replacement with immediate effect on a six month secondment. Commenting on his new role Chris Dobson said: “I am delighted to have been asked to step into this crucial role. I know how important the work of the Pensions Regulator is and how high its reputation is across the pensions world and within government. I am really looking forward to helping to play a part in driving forward the organisation.”

Announcing the change, Tony Hobman, Chief Executive of the Pensions Regulator said: “I would like to pay tribute to the considerable contribution that Charlie Massey has made to the Pensions Regulator over the past three years. He will be missed by everyone in the organisation – and I am sure that they will join me in wishing Charlie all the very best for the future.  I would also like to welcome Chris Dobson and look forward to working with him over the coming months”.

Editor's notes

1. Charlie Massey has been Executive Director of Strategic Development at the Pensions Regulator since 2005. The strategic development function incorporates work relating to strategy, policy and guidance, communications, planning and performance.
   
   • Before joining the regulator, he was a senior civil servant in the Department for Work and Pensions, responsible for heading up the division that created the Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund.
   • He previously worked in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit where he led projects on drugs and childcare. He has also worked in HM Treasury, where he had responsibility for the Post Office, as well as a number of roles in the Department of Social Security, from leading a fraud team in East London, to working as private secretary to one of the Department's Ministers.
2. Chris Dobson is currently Director of Corporate Development at the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority, where he is responsible for helping to set up the organisation and communications and marketing activity, as well as designing funding, investment and annuitisation strategies for the planned personal accounts scheme.
   
   • Chris's previous posts include Head of the Secretariat to the Pensions Commission, which recommended wide-ranging changes to UK pensions. He is a senior civil servant and holds degrees in economics, finance and business
3. The Pensions Regulator is the regulator of work-based pensions in the UK, with wide-ranging and flexible powers under the Pensions Act 2004. The powers of the Pensions Regulator include the ability to:
4. • collect more detailed scheme information;
   • issue improvement notices and third party notices, enabling the  regulator to ensure problems are put right;
   • freeze a scheme that is at risk, while the regulator investigates;  and
   • prohibit trustees who are judged not fit and proper to carry out  their duties, or appoint independent trustees.
     
     The Pensions Act 2004 also imposes a statutory obligation on 'whistleblowers' to report suspected breaches of the legislation to the regulator.