Michael O'Higgins became Chairman of The Pensions Regulator in January 2011, having previously been Chairman of Alexander Mann Solutions. He was Chairman of the Audit Commission from October 2006 until September 2012. He is also a Non-Executive Director of HM Treasury and Chair of the Treasury Group Audit Committee. He is Chairman of Investec Structured Products Calculus VCT plc. Michael was also the Chair of the charity Centrepoint from 2004 to 2011.

Previously, Michael was a Managing Partner with PA Consulting, leading its Government and IT Consulting Groups, latterly as a Director on its International Board. Prior to that he was a partner at Price Waterhouse, worked at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris and held academic posts at the University of Bath, the London School of Economics, Harvard University and the Australian National University.