The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has announced three senior appointments including a new Chief Finance Officer and new Pensions Dashboards Programme Director.
Joining the MaPS Board and Executive Leadership Team from 1 April 2021 is the new Chief Finance Officer Mal Singh. Mal brings with him extensive experience of senior finance roles within digital, welfare reform, operations and strategy.
Most recently Mal worked at BPDTS Ltd, the digital technology company which was set up to provide specialist digital technology services to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), where he has been Chief Finance Officer and a member of the Board since 1 April 2019. Before joining DWP in 2009, Mal worked at HM Treasury where he led on the financial management reforms across Whitehall.
Mal Singh, Chief Financial Officer, says:
“I am thrilled and excited to be joining MaPS at such an important time to help everyone make the most of their money and pensions.”
Two further senior appointments have also been made and joining on the same day as Mal Singh are Mark Gray, who has been appointed on a permanent basis as Chief Risk Officer, and Richard James who is joining MaPS as Pensions Dashboards Programme Director.
Richard James brings a wealth of experience to the role of Pensions Dashboards Programme Director gained from 23 years in the public sector, spanning operational, finance, policy, and transformation roles across the Department for Work and Pensions, Inland Revenue, HM Treasury, and HMRC. In 12 years of senior programme delivery roles, Richard has led large and complex programmes to introduce digital Personal Tax Accounts, implement changes required to support the UK’s exit from the European Union, and deliver a Trader Support Service within Northern Ireland.
Richard James, Pensions Dashboards Programme Director, says:
“I’m delighted to be joining MaPS to continue the work being done by the Pensions Dashboards Programme. It’s an exciting opportunity to contribute towards this hugely important piece of work, which will play a central role in equipping people to understand and to take control of their retirement planning.”
Mark Gray has been interim Risk, Compliance and Assurance Director on an interim basis since June 2020 and is now appointed Chief Risk Officer.
Mark’s previous experience includes working as the Chief Risk Officer at the British Business Bank, advising the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Her Majesty’s Land Registry on their Risk and Assurance Frameworks, and interim Chief Risk Officer at Homes England.
Caroline Siarkiewicz, CEO, says:
“I’d like to welcome Mal, Mark and Richard to the team at such an important time for MaPS, as we play a critical role in supporting customers throughout the UK whose financial situation has become more uncertain as a result of the pandemic.”
-ENDS-
For media enquiries contact:
- MaPS Press Office 020 8132 5284 / media@maps.org.uk
- Mia Cochrane, senior press officer 020 8132 4937 / mia.cochrane@maps.org.uk
- Richard Prescott, senior communications manager richard.prescott@maps.org.uk
About the Money and Pensions Service
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is here to ensure every person feels more in control of their finances throughout their lives: from pocket money to pensions. When they are, communities are healthier, businesses are more prosperous, the economy benefits and individuals feel better off. MaPS delivers free and impartial money and pensions guidance to the public through the Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.
MaPS is working to make sure the whole of the UK understands that financial, physical and mental health are all deeply connected. MaPS’ role is to connect organisations with the shared purpose of achieving the five goals set out in the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing.
MaPS supports innovation so that everyone can use the most effective methods to help people feel more in control of their money, targeted to those most in need and inclusive of people from all backgrounds. MaPS is an arm’s-length body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
For further information visit www.maps.org.uk. Members of the public can get free guidance about their money and pensions via:
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk / 0800 138 7777
www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk / 0800 011 3797
www.pensionwise.gov.uk / 0800 138 3944
About the Pensions Dashboards Programme
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has established the Pensions Dashboards Programme team, led by Principal Chris Curry, to design and implement the ecosystem that will make pensions dashboards work and which will enable individuals to view all their pensions data via their chosen dashboard. Pensions dashboards will enable individuals to access their pensions information online, securely and all in one place, thereby supporting better planning for retirement and growing financial wellbeing. Dashboards will provide clear and simple information about an individual’s multiple pension savings, including their State Pension. They will also help them to reconnect with any lost pension pots.
The Pensions Dashboards Programme has its own website where news, blogs and reports will be published regularly. www.pensionsdashboardsprogramme.org.uk
MaPS’ role in developing pensions dashboards
Government has committed to facilitating the pensions industry to develop this initiative and have given specific responsibilities to the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) which include:
- bringing together a programme team to lead the implementation of pensions dashboards
- appointing an industry steering group to set the strategic direction of the programme
- beginning work to create and run a non-commercial pensions dashboard – the MaPS Dashboard.