Charles Counsell OBE

EMPLOYMENT

Counsell has established himself as a prominent figure in regulatory leadership and public service, with a career marked by transformation initiatives and strategic oversight across multiple sectors.  

Now, as he prepares to take on his new role at the Gambling Commission, Counsell’s leadership abilities hope to continue leaving a lasting impact on the organisations and communities he serves. 

Beginning his career in the private sector, Counsell spent 23 years honing his expertise in implementing large-scale change programs, including 17 years as a consultant. This foundation would prove invaluable in his subsequent transition to public service roles. 

In 2011, Counsell joined The Pensions Regulator (TPR) as Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment (AE). This role saw him collaborate closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to implement one of the UK’s most significant workplace pension reforms. Under his leadership, the AE program successfully encouraged over 7.5 million workers across 500,000 employers to begin saving for their future through workplace pensions. The program was widely hailed as a milestone in social reform, and Counsell’s role earned him an OBE in 2017 for services to workplace pensions reform. 

Building on this success, Counsell was appointed Chief Executive of the Money Advice Service (MAS) in 2017. During his tenure, he guided the organisation through a complex merger with two pension bodies, resulting in the creation of the Money and Pensions Service.  

In 2019, Counsell returned to TPR as Chief Executive – implementing major organisational changes during his four-year tenure. He developed a new corporate strategy that prioritised pension savers, delivered the organisation's first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, and led the modernisation of its IT infrastructure. His vision for a data-led digital organisation also resulted in the establishment of a dedicated Digital, Data and Technology Directorate. 

Counsell’s expertise in governance led to his appointment as a Non-Executive Director of the Gambling Commission in 2023, where he quickly rose to become Senior Independent Director in 2024. In February 2025, he is set to assume the role of Interim Chair of the Gambling Commission. This appointment comes at a pivotal moment as the Commission transitions from Marcus Boyle’s tenure – a period marked by significant regulatory advancements and the launch of the fourth National Lottery licence.  

Counsell’s extensive leadership experience hopes to position him to ensure continuity and drive forward the Commission’s goals – including harm prevention, transparency and modernisation.