TPR's Neil Bull, Nina Blackett and Mel Charles
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has appointed Neil Bull as interim director of market oversight, Nina Blackett as interim director of strategy, policy and analysis, and Mel Charles as interim director of regulatory compliance.
The moves comes after the regulator announced a restructure as part of "strategic shift" in pensions oversight last month – establishing three new regulatory functions of regulatory compliance; market oversight; and strategy, policy and analysis.
It said the changes would better align TPR's structure to its strategic priorities and core functions.
Commenting on today's interim appointments, TPR chief executive Nausicaa Delfas said: "These appointments are critical in accelerating the shift in our regulatory approach that will help us to protect, enhance and innovate in a changing pensions market, and become a more efficient and effective regulator."
TPR said the interim appointees are expected to be in post while the regulator recruits for the three permanent executive director roles.
The regulator said it has launched a new microsite to encourage applications from "both TPR colleagues and the wider market".
TPR added that Louise Davey continued to be a member of TPR's executive team, leading the interim regulatory advice and analysis directorate, and continuing as a key spokesperson at industry events.
The interim leadership at TPR
Neil Bull joined TPR in 2017 and heads the investment team, which advises on investment issues in both defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) pension schemes. Prior to joining the regulator, he worked in the commercial pensions sector for the best part of three decades as an investment consultant and a fixed income portfolio manager at IBM Retirement Funds EMEA. He is a former chair of trustees and former chair of the investment committee of the IBM Ireland DC Pension Plan and is both a fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and a CFA charterholder.
Nina Blackett joined TPR in September 2023 as director of digital services. During this time, she has also been leading the shift in TPR's approach to regulating master trusts and its implementation of multi-disciplinary teams. Before TPR, Blackett led the design and development of evidence-based interventions in healthcare and education across private, public and third sectors. Blackett's career has spanned start-ups and established businesses and her specific interests include the use of digital and data to improve social outcomes, and multidisciplinary team working in the service of innovation.
Mel Charles has held many roles since he joined TPR in 2011, most recently director of auto-enrolment, responsible for all aspects of the regulatory operation from communications and customer support to IT systems and enforcement. He is a member of the TPR executive committee and the TPR board. Prior to joining TPR, he held a range of positions in central government departments covering justice, international development and business. He is a qualified solicitor, risk management specialist and has sponsored and directed a range of programmes and projects.
