The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
has announced 2 permanent appointments
to its executive team, strengthening leadership at a
pivotal time for UK and global financial
markets.
Simon Walls
appointed executive director, markets
Simon Walls has been
appointed permanent executive director, markets. Having taken
on this role on a temporary basis since 2024, his
appointment provides continuity at a vital and volatile time
for the UK and global economy. Simon will be able to drive
forward work he has already started to strengthen our approach on
wholesale markets and to ensure a more resilient financial system
by rebalancing risk and supporting
growth.
Simon joined the FCA in 2006 and has
held senior roles across wholesale markets, including policy,
asset management and banking
supervision. He played a key role in
navigating significant events affecting markets,
including the LIBOR (the London Interbank Offered
Rate) transition and the UK's exit from the
EU.
Simon Walls said: “Britain's
financial markets have been defined for centuries by
innovation, openness and
integrity. I'm delighted to lead such a committed and
professional team at the FCA as we deliver our ambitious markets
work to further these traditions. In partnership with government
and industry, we are building momentum - ensuring great outcomes
for domestic and international users of
markets.”
Johan Sekora to join
as chief operating officer
Johan Sekora has been appointed as
chief operating officer, relocating from Stockholm, to take up
the role at the start of June. Johan will play a central role in
supporting the FCA's strategy and ambition to be a smarter, more
effective regulator. Johan brings over 25 years' experience in
financial services.
A leading European voice on the
importance of industry collaboration and the use of technology to
tackle financial crime, Johan has worked extensively on
accelerating the use of data and artificial intelligence to
address emerging risks.
Johan Sekora said: “I very much
look forward to joining the FCA team. As the leading and largest
European regulator, the FCA leads from the front in many
regulated areas by protecting customers, driving smarter
regulation, and combatting financial crime through collaboration
and the use of AI.”
, chief executive of the FCA
said: “A strong
leadership team is a crucial part of us being the smarter
regulator we aspire to be. Simon's appointment provides
continuity as we continue to reform our wholesale markets,
while Johan brings significant international experience that will
help us operate more efficiently and effectively in the
interests of consumers, markets and the wider
economy.”
Notes
to editors:
-
Simon has held a range of roles in
wholesale markets across 20 years at the FCA
(previously the FSA),
including the supervision of buy-side, sell-side and
infrastructure firms. He was the head
of the wholesale
markets department from 2016, before taking up the post of
director of sell-side in 2022. Before joining the FSA, Simon
started his career on the graduate scheme at the Bank of
England and holds qualifications in economics and
law.
-
Johan joins the FCA from SEB, a
major Swedish bank, where he was global head of financial crime
prevention. He has also served as chair of SAMLIT, the Swedish
banking sector's financial crime collaboration with the Swedish
police. Prior to joining SEB, he spent 20 years with HSBC in
the UK and internationally, most recently as global chief
operating officer, regulatory
compliance. Johan
holds a
degree in politics and
parliamentary
studies from Leeds
University.
