Press release

New Chair of The Pensions Advisory Service appointed

David Harker CBE has been appointed as Chair of The Pensions Advisory Service, the DWP announced today (27 June 2014).

From:
Department for Work and Pensions and The Rt Hon Steve Webb
Published
27 June 2014
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

He will take up his post from 14 July 2014, for a 4-year term.

The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) is an independent organisation that provides free information and guidance to members of the public on occupational and personal pension issues.

It also helps members of the public who have a problem, complaint or dispute with their occupational or private pension arrangement. In addition to the full-time staff of 40 people, its work is supported by a network of volunteers.

In the past year TPAS has helped over 1.7 million people with their queries.

Reforms to be introduced in the coming years include the introduction of the simpler new State Pension, greater freedoms for pensioners over how they spend their lifetime savings at retirement, and the ongoing roll out of automatic enrolment which has seen 3.6 million people saving for the first time or saving more for their retirement.

Pensions Minister Steve Webb said:

I am pleased to announce that David Harker will be the next Chair of the Pensions Advisory Service – during this vital period of pensions reform.

David is a proven leader who brings a wealth of consumer advice and voluntary sector experience to the role and I very much look forward to working with him.

I would also like to thank Partha Dasgupta for the work he has done in this role over the last 4 years. He has successfully led the organisation through a period of modernisation and change and I wish him every success for the future.

David Harker said:

I am delighted to be the next Chair of The Pensions Advisory Service – an organisation I have long admired. I look forward to leading the Board and helping TPAS both rise to the challenge of major changes in the pensions landscape and maintain its highly regarded position as a source of impartial expertise.

More information

The Chair of the Pensions Advisory service is appointed by the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions. This appointment was made following an open competition regulated by The Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments.

David Harker’s career to date spans the public and private sectors with a particularly strong focus on consumer advice and the voluntary sector.

He has been a member of the Financial Conduct Authority Board since April 2013 and was previously the chief executive of Citizens Advice from 1997 until 2010.

Remuneration for this role is £30,000 for 60 days a year.

Partha Dasgupta, the current chair, will stand down on 13 July 2014. He was initially appointed as Chair of the Pensions Advisory Service on 4 January 2010.

TPAS is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Department for Work and Pensions.

You can get more information about TPAS by:

Contact Press Office

Media enquiries for this press release – 0203 267 5123

Press Office

Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA

London Press Office (national media and London area enquiries only – not questions about personal claims) 020 3267 5144

Out-of-hours (journalists only) 07623 928 975

England and Wales (local media enquiries) 029 20 586 then 097 or 098 or 099

Scotland (local media enquiries) 0131 310 1122

Follow DWP on:

Published 27 June 2014