The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has appointed Sheldon Mills as its new director of competition. Sheldon is currently senior director, mergers and state aid at the Competition and Markets Authority[1] (CMA).
At the FCA, Sheldon will be a central figure in delivering one of the organisation’s operational objectives — to promote competition in consumers’ interest. In addition to delivering market studies, for example those currently ongoing into the mortgage and wholesale insurance brokerage market, Sheldon will be responsible for the FCA’s activities to enforce prohibitions on anti-competitive behaviour within the financial services industry.
Sheldon Mills, the incoming director of competition at the FCA, said:
'I am delighted to be joining the FCA to lead their expert and committed competition team. Financial markets face major change and complexity, so the FCA’s competition work is essential. I am looking forward to leading a programme of work which delivers real and lasting change for people and communities across the UK.'
Christopher Woolard, executive director of strategy and competition, said:
'In Sheldon we are getting an undisputed expert in competition law and policy. I know that Sheldon will continue the ground-breaking and vital work the FCA has done since it was given a competition remit, to deliver markets that deliver for consumers.'
Sheldon will take up his role in November.
Notes to editors
- At the CMA[1], Sheldon has overall leadership responsibility for the delivery of UK merger control across the entire economy and for the strategic design and implementation of the new UK State Aid regime. Sheldon was appointed senior director of mergers in 2014, having first held a senior directorship in 2013 at the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), the CMA’s predecessor. Sheldon is a qualified solicitor and, before joining the OFT in 2010, practiced competition and anti-trust law at City firms, SJ Berwin, Jones Day and K&L Gates. Sheldon is a trustee at Stonewall, the LGBT+ support and advocacy charity.
- On 1 April 2013, the FCA became responsible for the conduct supervision of all regulated financial firms and the prudential supervision of those not supervised by the Prudential Regulation Authority[2] (PRA).
- The FCA has an overarching strategic objective of ensuring the relevant markets function well. To support this, it has three operational objectives: to secure an appropriate degree of protection for consumers, to protect and enhance the integrity of the UK financial system, and to promote effective competition in the interests of consumers.
- Find out more information about the FCA[3].