John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft is Head of Strategy at the Pensions Regulator and has held this post since its inception in April 2005. The post is responsible for a team of around 25 staff from a range of disciplines responsible for research, environmental scanning, business planning and the formulation of regulatory strategies. Ge has overseen the delivery of major publications including the regulator’s first medium term strategy, statement on its approach to scheme funding and first survey of pension scheme governance. His team includes the regulator’s international section and he is Chairman of the International Organisation of Pensions Supervisors.Prior to that, John was Strategic Policy Director at the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority which he joined in September 2003. This post was responsible for regulator input to the change programme establishing the Pensions Regulator and the strategic policy team.
His earlier career, from graduation, was with the National Audit Office (NAO). His wide ranging experience with the NAO encompassed prisons, education and defence, including a two-year secondment to the MOD. Latterly he was Director of Corporate Policy and Director for value for money studies of economic and other government regulators. As part of this latter role he led the NAO review of Opra as well as initiating the NAO's work examining regulatory impact assessments.
John is a qualified accountant (CIPFA) and has three children. He has a degree in engineering and economics from the University of Oxford.
