Three new Chairs for the Financial Conduct Authority’s independent Practitioner Panels have been appointed, announced the FCA’s Chairman John Griffith-Jones today.
The appointments, which come into effect from 1st April 2015, are:
FCA Practitioner Panel – Alison Brittain, Group Director of Retail, Lloyds Banking Group
FCA Markets Practitioner Panel – Robert Mass, Head of International Compliance and global head of Securities Division Compliance, Goldman Sachs
FCA Smaller Business Practitioner Panel – Clinton Askew, Director, Citywide Financial Partners
Each appointment is for a term of two years.
Alison Brittain, Robert Mass and Clinton Askew will succeed Graham Beale, Paul Swann and Andrew Turberville Smith respectively.
Welcoming the appointments, FCA Chairman John Griffith-Jones said:
"These appointments ensure that once again the Practitioner Panels will have experienced and respected voices making the case from the industry's perspective. The current regulatory framework depends on the Panels being able to play their part and I am sure that the new Chairs will continue the excellent work of their predecessors.
"I would like to thank Graham, Paul and Andrew for their contributions over the last two years which oversaw the establishment of the FCA."
The FCA Practitioner Panels are independent statutory bodies that represent the interests of the financial services industry within the UK’s regulatory framework. Panel members are recruited to represent sectors and the industry as a whole, rather than individual firms.
Notes to editors
- The Practitioner Panels are part of the system that the FCA set up to make and maintain effective arrangements for consulting practitioners and consumers on the extent to which its general policies and practices are consistent with its general duties, as set out in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended).
- Appointments of the Chairs of the Statutory Panels are made by the FCA Board and are approved by HM Treasury.
- Alison Brittain is the Group Director of Retail for Lloyds Banking Group. In her current role, Alison leads the Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland retail branch networks, the Telephone banking and Intermediary channels, Customer Products, in addition to the Retail Business Banking and UK Wealth businesses. Before this, she was Executive Director for Retail Distribution at Santander UK. Previously, Alison held various senior roles at Barclays including Managing Director of Barclays & Woolwich Retail Network, Managing Director of Barclays Small Business Banking and Chief Operating Officer of Premier Banking. Alison is also a Non-Executive Director of Marks and Spencer.
- Robert Mass is Head of International Compliance, and global head of Securities Division Compliance at Goldman Sachs. Robert’s experience in Goldman Sachs since 1992 has covered multiple businesses and jurisdictions. He was appointed as managing director in 2001, partner in 2010 and head of International Compliance in 2013. Prior to joining the firm, Rob was an assistant district attorney in New York County, where he served as deputy chief of the Investigation Division and chief of the Labor Racketeering Unit.
- Clinton Askew is the Director of Citywide Financial Partners, a financial advice and wealth management business based in Surrey. The firm was established in 2004 and specialises in providing financial advice to high net worth individuals and their families. Clinton joined the financial services industry after graduating from Bristol UWE in 1981. He has worked in the independent sector since 1986. Clinton has been a member of the FSA’s Smaller Businesses Practitioner Panel since 2009, representing independent financial advisers.
- Graham Beale is Chief Executive of Nationwide Building Society, Paul Swann is Managing Director and Chairman of ICE Clear Europe and Andrew Turberville Smith is the Financial Director and Chief Operating Officer for Weatherbys Bank. All were appointed in 1st April 2013.
- More details about the Practitioner Panel.