FCA appoints Hong Kong SFC Head of Enforcement as Director of Market Oversight

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced the appointments of two key executive roles, with Mark Steward becoming the new Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight and Barbara Frohn the new Director of Risk and Compliance Oversight.

Mark Steward is currently the head of enforcement at the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, and Barbara Frohn is Managing Director of Banco Santander and currently on secondment to the Institute of International Finance in Washington, D.C. Both will be expected to take up their new roles in London, in the early autumn.

These appointments are part of the regulatory authority’s directive to become more stringent following criticisms which were leveled at its performance during 2014, the year in which several British banks were under investigation for LIBOR and FX benchmark manipulation, resulting in the chastising of some of its senior executives and the forfeiture of annual bonus by FCA CEO Martin Wheatley.

Speaking last week with regard to the new appointments, Mr. Wheatley said: “These are two vital roles within the UK regulatory system and it says a lot about the FCA that we have been able to attract such high calibre candidates to fill them. Mark and Barbara have built up excellent reputations for their work in financial services across the globe, and I am delighted they have chosen to bring their experience to the FCA.

The FCA also announced the details of three recent key Director appointments as Marc Teasdale was named Director of Market Oversight within the Enforcement and Market Oversight division, Jo Hill as Director for Markets Intelligence, Data and Analysis and Andrew Whyte as Director of Communications within the Strategy and Competition division.

Martin Wheatley commented: “While the FCA has been able to attract some of the best people from outside, we also have highly talented, hard-working people within the organisation and Marc Teasdale, Jo Hill and Andrew Whyte will be taking on roles that will be vital to the organisation successfully delivering its objectives and priorities for the years ahead.”

These appointments represent the next stage of the implementation of the FCA’s new strategic approach and the associated new leadership structure which was announced last December.

Mark Steward’s role brings together the organisation’s Enforcement function with a new Market Oversight Division, which was created by incorporating the UKLA and Market Monitoring functions.

The new Risk and Compliance Oversight Division provides a strategic approach to the management of internal and external risk and a direct link between the risk function and the Chief Executive for the first time.

For the official announcement from the FCA, click here.

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