The FCA and PSR Appoint New Members to Decision-Making Committees

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) have appointed two new Deputy Chairs to their respective Regulatory Decisions Committees (RDCs). Margaret Obi and Edward Sparrow will join the RDCs in September 2023, following the retirement of Elizabeth France and John Hull.

The RDCs are responsible for making certain regulatory decisions on behalf of the FCA and PSR, including decisions on enforcement and supervisory actions, and firm authorisation and individual approval applications. They are independent committees, with members drawn from across a spectrum of business, consumer and industry experience.

Margaret Obi is a former partner at Slaughter and May, where she specialized in financial regulation. She has also held senior roles at the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority. Edward Sparrow is a former partner at Linklaters, where he specialized in competition law. He has also held senior roles at the Competition and Markets Authority and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The appointments of Margaret Obi and Edward Sparrow are a significant development for the FCA and PSR. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the RDCs, and they will play a key role in ensuring that the committees continue to make sound and impartial decisions.

The appointments also reflect the FCA and PSR's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Both Margaret Obi and Edward Sparrow are women, and they bring different perspectives to the RDCs. This will help to ensure that the committees are able to make decisions that are fair and effective for all stakeholders.

What do the appointments mean for the FCA and PSR?

The appointments of Margaret Obi and Edward Sparrow will strengthen the FCA and PSR's decision-making capabilities. The RDCs are responsible for making some of the most important decisions that the FCA and PSR take, and the new members will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the committees.

The appointments will also help to ensure that the FCA and PSR are able to make decisions that are fair and effective for all stakeholders. Margaret Obi and Edward Sparrow bring different perspectives to the RDCs, and this will help to ensure that the committees are able to take into account the views of all stakeholders when making decisions.

The appointments of Margaret Obi and Edward Sparrow are a significant development for the FCA and PSR. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the RDCs, and they will play a key role in ensuring that the committees continue to make sound and impartial decisions. The appointments also reflect the FCA and PSR's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-and-psr-boards-appoint-new-members-decision-making-committees-0