The UK Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has finally appointed a permanent director of private pensions after more than six months with an interim director.
Charlotte Clark has moved over from HM Treasury to take up the role, which she began in late July this year.
The DWP confirmed Clark would replace Bridget Micklem, who was appointed interim director from her deputy director role after the sudden departure of Sarah Healey at the end of 2013, who left after only seven months.
The DWP role is the key policy director for overseeing government plans for second-pillar pensions, including auto-enrolment, the end of contracting out and the charge cap coming into place in 2015.
Clark will also be responsible for overseeing the Pensions Regulator (TPR), which acts as an executive body enforcing the regulations and rules set down by her department.
It is understood Clark will be heavily involved in the search for a permanent chief executive at TPR, which has seen Stephen Soper acting as interim chief executive since August 2013, when Bill Galvin departed to take over at the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
Clark will also represent the government in a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) review into legacy workplace pension schemes, some of which have significantly higher charges than schemes set up after 2001.
Prior to taking up the DWP role, Clark had been heavily involved in shaping UK pensions policy from previous government positions.
She moved over from a head of pensions and savings role at HM Treasury and was responsible for leading the team behind the reforms to defined contribution schemes announced in this year’s Budget.
Clark was also head of workplace pension reform between 2005 and 2009.
She led the policy team responsible for implementing auto-enrolment legislation and oversaw the creation of the National Employment Savings Trust.
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