DWP announces appointment of Deborah Evans as new chair of TPO
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced the appointment of Deborah Evans as the new chair of The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO), effective from 1 July 2025, for a five-year term. Evans, who currently serves as a non-executive director and chair of TPO’s compliance committee, will take over from Anthony Arter, who has been interim chair since January 2024. The appointment was made by the Secretary of State following an open competition regulated by the Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments. As chair, Evans will receive £24,000 per year for a minimum time commitment of 36 days annually. The announcement comes as the government’s Pension Schemes Bill continues its passage through Parliament, with proposed measures to strengthen the legal standing of TPO and improve the resolution of pension overpayment cases.