Mike Lazenby served as chief executive of Kent Reliance for 11 years before stepping down last February after a takeover by US private equity firm JC Flowers – which saw the building society recast as OneSavings Bank.
PP understands Lazenby has been in the position for four weeks and will take on the responsibilities previously held by June Mulroy.
Mulroy left her role as director for defined contribution, governance and administration in December after seven years at the watchdog.
The move comes as the regulator increases its focus on defined contribution ahead of the introduction of auto-enrolment later this year.
Lazenby said: “I’m very pleased to have joined the regulator at such an interesting and important time for pensions, with the advent of automatic enrolment just around the corner.
“I look forward to building on the regulator’s work with the industry to reinforce our views about DC standards, so that there is a better chance that DC members can receive a good outcome from their retirement savings.”
