New UKGC Interim Chair named as Charles Counsell

Charles Counsell OBE has been announced as the Interim Chair to the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) for a nine-month term. 

Appointed by the Secretary of State, Counsell will step into the role starting 1 February, 2025. He’s been the Senior Independent Director at the UKGC since April this year.

Previously, Counsell took the responsibilities of the CEO of The Pensions Regulator between April 2019 and March 2023. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment at the same public body, as well as the CEO of the Money Advice Service. 

During his tenure as the CEO of The Pensions Regulator, the new gambling Interim Chair was in charge of developing a corporate strategy that put pension saver at the heart of the non-departmental service. 

This was in addition to him delivering the first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion plan and Climate Strategy to The Pensions Regulator, driving change across the pensions sector. 

In the government’s official statement about the new announcement, it was confirmed that Counsell will be remunerated at £55k per year. His appointment has been made following the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

The Code dictates that prior to his official stepping into power, Counsell must declare all significant political activity he undertook over the last five years, including public speaking, recordable donations, or participating in elections. To the knowledge of the government however, Counsell has so far “not declared any significant political activity”.