Pensions UK looks for new chair to succeed Emma Douglas

Successful candidate will act as a figurehead and ambassador for the trade body

04 February 2026 • 2 min read

The move comes as the government named the current Pensions UK chair Emma Douglas as the "preferred candidate" for the role of chair at The Pensions Regulator (TPR) in January.

In the advertisement for the role, the trade body said the successful candidate would be a figurehead and ambassador for Pensions UK and all of the issues it represents – "providing leadership and strategic guidance to the board, chief executive and the executive team as well as UK government, media and other key influencers.

It said the new chair would, in normal course, complete a three-year term in the role but said this could be extended by agreement to six years.

Pensions UK said the unremunerated role would involve a time commitment of around 25 days per year - including monthly one-to-one meetings with the chief executive, regular meetings with other executives, four board meetings a year and attendance and involvement in a range of Pensions UK conferences, dinners and stakeholder events.

In a separate note to members, seen by PP, Pensions UK said it was "particularly keen" to hear from individuals who are able to represent the breadth and depth of our membership, "ideally with experience of running a pension fund".

The deadline for applications is close of business on 20 February 2026.

List of Pensions UK chairs

The list of the most recent chairs of Pensions UK – the body known as the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) up to 2025 – is as follows.

The organisation was formed in 1923 as the Association of Superannuation & Pension Funds, becoming the National Association of Pension Funds in 1967 and the PLSA in 2015.

Chairs since 1991 are below: