Christopher Woolard appointed to the FCA Board

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced the appointment of Director of Strategy and Competition, Christopher Woolard, to its Board for a three year term starting 1 August 2015. Mr Woolard joined the FCA in January 2013 as Director of Policy, Risk and Research which became Strategy and Competition in December 2014. He is a non-executive member of the Board of the Payment Systems Regulator.

Prior to this he was Group Director and Content Board member at Ofcom. He has spent most of his career in regulation or policy development including working at the BBC and as a senior civil servant at the Department of Trade and Industry. He is a Sloan Fellow of London Business School.

Welcoming the appointment, FCA Chairman John Griffith-Jones said: "Christopher has been a vital member of the FCA’s Executive Committee since the inception of the organisation, in particular shaping the strategy launched in December last year and our approach to competition. He will bring invaluable experience and judgement to the Board from his time at the FCA, but also outside the financial sector."

About the FCA

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 (PRA). On 1 April 2014, the FCA took over responsibility for consumer credit regulation. 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.

Appointments of executive members of the FCA Board are made by the HM Treasury and the terms of service of appointed members are determined by the Treasury in accordance with the Act.

For further information about the FCA visit www.fca.org.uk