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The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has appointed six directors as it grapples with expanded post-Brexit responsibilities.
The appointees follow the launch of the finance watchdog’s three-year strategy in April.
This included commitments to reduce and prevent serious harm to consumers by using data to take action against bad actors quicker; setting higher standards, such as through the new Consumer Duty; and by promoting competition and positive change, including the launch of a new "Scalebox" initiative to support fintechs.
Among the new appointees, Matthew Long has been appointed as director of payments and digital assets, which is a new role overseeing the e-money, payment and crypto-asset markets and leading related policy development. He will start his new role in October.
Long already works in government, as a director within the National Crime Agency, heading the economic crime unit.
Previously, he led the UK’s Financial Intelligence Unit, having started his career as a police officer in Kent.
Meanwhile, Roma Pearson has been appointed as the FCA’s director of consumer finance and will be responsible for supervision and policy development in the consumer lending sector.
Pearson is a long-serving staffer at the FCA, having worked for the entity and its predecessors since 1996.
She most recently headed up the risk and compliance oversight division, and starts her new position this month.
Anthony Monaghan, once a private practice lawyer, has had his role as retail and regulatory investigations chief made permanent, having covered it on an interim basis since April 2021.
Monaghan will be responsible for the FCA’s regulatory investigations in sectors including banking, insurance, financial advice and personal pensions.
Karen Baxter will join the FCA as director of strategy, policy, international and intelligence, leading the specialised functions that support the FCA’s enforcement and market oversight activities, and Camille Blackburn will head up policy development and supervision for issues such as asset management and investment research.
Commenting on the appointments, Nikhil Rathi, the FCA’s chief executive, said: "As our remit grows and to deliver on our ambitious strategy, we’re continuing to develop and bring in the skills and talent we need.
“My Executive Committee colleagues and I are delighted to announce the latest additions to our leadership team, who will each bring deep expertise and broad experience to the FCA,” he continued.
