FOS CEO Abby Thomas received £230,000 payout after sudden exit

Includes £100,000 loss of office compensation

Sahar Nazir
clock • 2 min read

The former CEO of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) Abby Thomas was paid nearly £230,000 following her abrupt departure earlier this year, the organisation’s latest annual report has confirmed.

Thomas, who stepped down on 6 February, received £229,869 in severance payments in addition to her regular salary, The Times first reported. The annual report for the year ended 31 March 2025 showed that the sum included £100,000 as compensation for loss of office, £107,692 in lieu of notice, and £22,177 for a period of gardening leave starting on her departure date. Her sudden exit drew criticism from MPs on the Treasury select committee, who questioned the handling of Thomas's exit and criticised FOS chair Baroness Zahida Manzoor for declining to clarify the reasons behind it or whe...

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