FCA Appoints New Executive Director and Chief People Officer

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that it has appointed Sheldon Mills as the new Executive Director of Consumers and Competition and Siobhán Sheridan as Chief People Officer.

The Executive Director of Consumers and Competition post was created last month when the UK regulator announced that its two existing Supervision divisions would be brought together and merged with the policy and competition functions. These will form a new, single division led by two Executive Directors: one focused on the FCA's consumer protection and competition objectives; the other on the objective to protect the financial markets.

Sheldon was formerly interim Executive Director of Strategy and Competition where he has, amongst other things, led the FCA's response to ensure industry support for consumers during the pandemic. Prior to joining the FCA, Sheldon was Senior Director at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), where he had overall leadership responsibility for the delivery of merger control across the UK economy. 

Siobhán Sheridan joins the FCA as Chief People Officer from the Ministry of Defence where she has been leading an HR team of 200 people and has been responsible for Diversity and Inclusion Strategy at Group level for Defence.

Her previous experience includes roles at Capital One, DEFRA, DWP and the NSPCC. Siobhán will be maintaining her position as a charity trustee at the Mental Health Foundation. She will take up her post from the end of March 2021.

Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive, said: "I am delighted that Sheldon Mills will be the FCA's first Executive Director of Consumers and Competition and also to welcome Siobhán Sheridan to the FCA as Chief People Officer.

"Sheldon has played a crucial role in supporting consumers during the pandemic. I know that Sheldon will bring his knowledge, leadership skills and passion for consumer issues to shape the newly established Division and motivate those who work in it to ever higher standards.   

"Siobhán will bring a wealth of experience of leading on people issues in both financial services and public service organisations to the FCA. I am confident that she will make a significant contribution to our ongoing transformation programme and strengthening FCA capabilities."