The Financial Conduct Authority has appointed as chair of our Financial
Services Consumer Panel.
Starting his role as chair from 2 June 2025, will lead the independent panel
in providing advice and representing the interests of consumers
to help us deliver our strategic priorities.
Welcoming the appointment, FCA chair Ashley Alder said:
'The Financial Services Consumer Panel plays a vital role in
bringing the consumer viewpoint into our decisions, particularly
as we advance our new 5-year strategy to build trust, drive
innovation, and support consumers in managing their financial
lives.
'I would like to thank Helen Charlton for her fantastic
leadership of the panel since 2022 and extend a warm welcome to
Chis Pond as her successor.'
said:
'I'm excited to join the panel at a pivotal time, helping balance
consumer protection with the responsible risk-taking needed for
economic growth and improved living standards. I look forward to
ensuring that consumer voices remain central to building trust in
our financial systems.'
More information
The statutory
panels were set up to make and maintain effective
arrangements for consulting consumers and practitioners on the
extent to which the FCA's 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 agreed by
the FCA Board and approved by the Treasury.
has worked on consumer and
social justice issues for many years, having been CEO of two
national charities and a trustee of many others. He has served on
numerous public bodies, including those reporting to the
Department of Health, HMRC and the Treasury, and has been awarded
honorary visiting professorships at two universities. Chris
served as an MP and Work and Pensions Minister before taking over
as CEO of Gingerbread: the National Council for One Parent
Families and then as director of financial capability with the
Financial Services Authority.
He currently chairs TrustMark, the Advisory Board for the Money
and Mental Health Policy Institute and an asbestos-compensation
scheme (Cape Claims Services Ltd). He is an independent director
with MOSL, the market operator for business water services, but
will be stepping down as Chair of the independent Financial
Inclusion Commission and from advisory roles with Fairer Finance
and the Equity Release Council.
