Pension Protection Fund (PPF) - Chair
- Body
- Pension Protection Fund
- Appointing Department
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Sectors
- Charity & Public Sector, Regulation
- Location
- London (Due to Covid-19 restrictions meetings may be held remotely e.g. via telephone/video links.)
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- £60,000 Per Annum
- Time Requirements
- 2 days per week - 104 days annually
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
15/02/2021
-
Closed for Applications
26/03/2021 at 17:00
-
Panel Sift
w/c 29 March 2021 (TBC)
-
Final Interview Date
27 & 28 April 2021 (TBC)
-
Announcement
23/06/2021 at 10:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Kate Jones announced as new Chair of the Pension Protection Fund Kate Jones has today been announced as the new Chair of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF), and will take up the post on 1 July 2021.
Jones has been a non-executive member of the PPF Board since February 2016.
The PPF plays a crucial role in protecting members of defined benefit pension schemes following the insolvency of an employer. If a scheme is unable to pay the pension it promised to its members, the PPF will ensure that compensation is paid.
Minister for Pensions, Guy Opperman, said:
I look forward to building a constructive and effective relationship with Kate Jones as she takes on this new appointment as the Chair of the PPF.
No doubt she will continue the excellent work the PPF has been doing in offering protection to nearly 10 million members of defined benefit pension schemes, paying hard-working savers compensation, should their employer become insolvent.
Newly appointed Chair of the Pension Protection Fund, Kate Jones, said:
I am proud to have the opportunity to lead the PPF in the next important phase of its evolution as we look to our future challenges, while always ensuring we’re able to continue to offer the very best protection to those who rely on us.
I have been fortunate to serve on the PPF Board for the last five years, and I have been impressed with the dedication and care shown to our members and levy payers by the PPF employees. I look forward to working closely with them, our Board and executive team to further build our financial strength.
I want to thank Arnold Wagner for his leadership of the Board, and his significant contribution to the PPF over the last 10 years.
As the Chair, Jones will work closely with the Board, especially the Chief Executive, setting the direction for the organisation in a time of change and ensuring the PPF is managed effectively, and that PPF objectives and strategy are translated into clear management objectives.
And crucially, she will act as an Ambassador for the PPF to ensure the positive and creditable reputation it enjoys is maintained and enhanced.
Jones follows Arnold Wagner who will be stepping down from the role at the end of his five-year term this July.
The PPF is a public corporation of the Department for Work and Pensions, and is run by an independent board.
Further information The Chair is entitled to an annual remuneration of £60,000, based on a time commitment of around 104 days per year. Contact Press Office Media enquiries for this press release – 0115 965 8781
Press Office
Caxton House Tothill Street London SW1H 9NA
Telephone: 0115 965 8781
Date: 23/06/2021
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Jo Gibson
- Added
- 15/02/2021
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- DWP Deputy Director Defined Benefit Pensions
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- Panel Member
- Otto Thoresen
- Added
- 15/02/2021
- Positions
- Chair of NEST Other Panel Member
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- Panel Member
- Amerdeep Somal.
- Added
- 15/02/2021
- Positions
- Independent Member
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Vacancy Description
The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) is a public corporation, established by the Pensions Act 2004, which has been protecting members of eligible defined benefit pension schemes across the UK since April 2005.
The PPF is run by an independent Board and is accountable to Parliament through the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions. It offers protection to nearly 10 million members belonging to more than 5,300 occupational defined benefit pension schemes. If an employer becomes insolvent and its defined benefit pension scheme has insufficient assets to pay its members what they were promised, the PPF pays compensation for their lost pensions. Before the PPF was established members in this situation would have been at risk of losing their pension benefits.
PPF compensation is paid at 100% for those members over the scheme’s normal pensionable age at the date of the sponsoring employer’s insolvency, and also to those in receipt of survivors’ benefits or an ill-health pension irrespective age at that time. Compensation for all other scheme members is typically at 90% of their accrued benefits, subject to an overall cap.
The PPF is funded in four ways; by a levy charged to all schemes eligible for its protection, the return on its investments, assets from pension schemes transferred into the PPF and recoveries from insolvent employers. The PPF is one of the UK’s largest asset owners with more than £36 billion of assets under management.
The PPF also administers the government’s Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) which supports members of eligible pension schemes whose sponsoring employers failed between January 1997 and April 2005. FAS does not offer a replacement for lost pensions but ensures that scheme members get 90 per cent of their expected pension at the point they become due for payment, subject to a cap. Unlike the PPF compensation, FAS payments are mainly funded by the taxpayer.
Currently PPF and FAS are responsible for the pension compensation of more than 425,000 members, with a further number of large, high profile schemes such as Thomas Cook, Debenhams and Arcadia currently in assessment.
In addition to the this, the PPF administers the Fraud Compensation Fund (as a successor body to the Pensions Compensation Board), also established in the Pensions Act 2005, on behalf of DWP. The Fund exists to pay compensation to occupational pension schemes which lose out financially due to dishonesty. This is funded by a separate levy and is an activity likely to receive greater focus in the future following a recent clarifying legal judgment on eligibility to make a claim, and the investigative work involved in each claim.
The PPF employs over 400 people at its Croydon office, with a small satellite investment team based at Cannon Street in the City of London, its operations are overseen by an Executive Committee led by CEO, Oliver Morley. Providing the highest levels of operational excellence and service to members, levy payers and other key stakeholders is vitally important to the PPF team who take real pride in the difference the PPF makes to the lives of those who rely on its services. The fact that these services are often required at a time of great stress only serves to reinforce the importance of excellence. This commitment is reflected in the organisation’s values and strategic priorities. The aspiration to be the best of public and financial services culture ensures its employees consistently rate it as an excellent place to work.
It is a diverse and forward-looking organisation which works closely with other pension, financial services and regulatory bodies to deliver the best outcomes through robust governance, responsible and sustainable investment, clear risk management, and a constant quest to raise standards for service, innovation and assurance.
The next phase of the PPF’s evolution will see the development and launch of a new three-year strategic plan in 2022, there will be a focus on the funding strategy as the business continues to prioritise sustainable growth in these uncertain times.
Further details can be found on PPF’s website and specifically in its three year Strategic Plan and Annual Report and Accounts.
The Role of the Chair
DWP is seeking a candidate with exceptional communication and leadership skills to fill this challenging role. The successful candidate will be collaborative, persuasive and have the ability to engage effectively with a very broad range of key stakeholders. They will have responsibility for:
• Setting strategic direction for the organisation in a time of change for the short and long term and effectively drawing out further efficiencies;
• Working closely with the Board especially the Chief Executive, ensuring PPF is managed effectively and that PPF objectives and strategy are translated into clear management objectives;
• Leading the Board in challenging and supporting the executive team;
• Chairing Board meetings and ensuring the effectiveness of the Board including encouraging a full contribution from all members;
• Acting as an Ambassador for PPF to ensure the positive and creditable reputation it enjoys is maintained and enhanced;
• Building constructive and effective relationships at a strategic level with DWP and its Ministers;
• Liaising with external and internal stakeholders; and
• Conducting an annual review of the effectiveness of individual board members and arranging for regular reviews of overall effectiveness to take place.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
• You will possess strong and effective senior leadership qualities including the ability to shape and support the delivery of agreed goals, priorities and statutory obligations, and the ability to lead through others;
• You will have excellent communication skills including the ability to influence people, and develop and maintain relationships across different groups;
• You will have the ability to operate constructively and build positive relationships with Board level and senior stakeholders – in particular the ability to engage and build effective relationships quickly with stakeholders in the Pensions industry in the current economic climate;
• You will have an understanding of the economic and political environment within which the public sector operates; and
• You will be able to demonstrate an excellent knowledge of corporate governance, and a clear understanding of the role of the executive versus that of non-executive.
Desirable Criteria
• Understanding of the pensions landscape;
• Understanding of investment management; and
• Understanding of and commitment to promoting high standards of customer service to members of the public.
How to Apply
In order for us to progress your application please submit the following completed documentation:
1. A CV (maximum 2-3 pages) with your education and professional qualifications and full employment history.
2. An accompanying Supporting Statement (maximum 2 pages, font 12). This is your opportunity to demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria set out in this information pack. You should aim to provide specific examples that demonstrate how your knowledge and experience matches each of the criteria, and that describe what your role was in achieving a specific result.
Please ensure your full name and the post for which you are applying are clearly noted at the top of your CV and Supporting Statement.
3. Personal Information Form Most of the information requested is not seen by the panel assessing your application (though the panel may consider your declaration of interests).
4. Diversity Monitoring Form. Collecting and analysing candidate data will help us improve our diversity strategy. It will allow us to run more successful recruitment exercises in the future and ensure that competitions are fair for all. This form is not part of the selection process and will be treated in strictest confidence. It will be kept separate from your application and not be seen by the selection panel.
The vacancy originally scheduled to close at 12pm on 15/03/2021, has been extended. The new closing date is 26/03/21.
Please email your application to: alb.publicappointments@dwp.gov.uk
If you have any difficulty in sending your application or need the application pack in an alternative format (e.g. Braille, large print, audio CD, tape or e-text), please contact the DWP ALB Public Appointments Team at the email address above.