Johnson (pictured above) previously ran David Cameron’s Economic Competitive Policy Group and was instrumental in helping introduce the lifetime Isa in this role.
He has also worked as a research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies and is the author of more than 40 pension-related papers.
More recently he has provided detailed proposals to both the Department of Work and Pensions and the Treasury Select Committee on how a workplace Isa might work alongside occupational pensions.
Smarterly says Johnson will provide “counsel, insight and strategic communications”.
The platform has recently expanded its team, after raising money through a crowdfunding campaign.
Smarterly supports companies with their financial wellbeing programmes and helps employees save through payroll deductions. The company uses artificial intelligence to design and monitor investment portfolios for employees.
Johnson says: “With 16 million adults having less than £100 in savings, and over 50 per cent of the UK workforce borrowing money to pay for basic needs, we need more engaging propositions to turn the UK into a nation of savers. Innovation is essential.”
He adds that the Smarterly’s workplace savings platform will in particular help support younger people with their savings needs.
Smarterly co-founder Phil Hollingdale says this appointment would help the business grow. He adds: “[Johnson] will help position Smarterly as a supporter of employers, their employees and workplace savings generally”.
Hollingdale founded the company with Ben Pollard, a qualified actuary. He adds that Smarterly was launched to fill the “advice gap”, with many traditional IFAs unable to give savings advice to those with less than £100,000 in liquid assets.