FCA appoints Deputy Chief Executive

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that it has appointed Sarah Pritchard as its Deputy Chief Executive to manage growing remit, support growth and drive reform

The new role has been created to reflect the FCA’s expanding remit, with the integration of the Payment Systems Regulator, regulation of stablecoin and crypto firms as well as buy now pay later activities. Pritchard will also support the FCA’s increasingly international focus, given its role supporting UK growth and competitiveness.  

Pritchard joined the FCA in June 2021 to jointly lead the supervision, policy and competition division. Sarah has most recently been responsible for consumers and competition, having previously led the FCA’s markets function. She also has executive responsibility for the FCA’s international work and personally spearheaded recent G20/Financial Stability Board work on leverage in non-bank financial institutions.  

Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive of the FCA, said “Since joining us, Sarah helped bring together our supervision, policy and competition functions and has led some of our most high-profile work, for example the once-in-a-generation overhaul of the listing rules and landmark work on financial advice and guidance.

“Delivering our ambitious new strategy – to deepen trust, rebalance risk, support growth and improve lives – is a collective endeavour and relies on continued reform. Sarah’s breadth of experience, in both public and private sectors, makes her ideally placed to help me drive this.”

Ashley Alder, Chair of the FCA, said “The international environment is complex, our remit is growing and expectations of us continue to evolve. The board fully support Sarah taking on the role of deputy chief executive to help Nikhil lead the FCA day-to-day and cultivate our key relationships. Sarah has proven her ability to drive reform and deliver bold proposals at pace.”