FCA under fire from MPs for 'extraordinary' chief exec hiring process

Appointed Andrew Bailey earlier this year

Carmen Reichman
clock • 4 min read

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been accused of conducting an ‘extraordinary' hiring process of its new chief executive, veering close to breaking employment discrimination laws, by an MP.

In a grilling with the Treasury select committee on 26 April, FCA chairman John Griffith-Jones faced questions by Labour MP John Mann about the process through which Andrew Bailey was appointed to head the FCA following Martin Wheatley's departure. Mann had raised questions over the independence of the regulator from political interference after Wheatley was axed by the Chancellor last year. The Chancellor had said a different leadership was needed at the regulator. Former deputy governor for prudential regulation at the Bank of England and CEO of the Prudential Regulation Authority (PR...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Regulation

Failed financial advice firms tracker

Failed financial advice firms tracker

Firms that the FSCS has confirmed as failed since the start of 2023

Professional Adviser
clock 31 March 2026 • 1 min read
Data-driven or anecdotal? Examining FCA Consumer Duty board reports

Data-driven or anecdotal? Examining FCA Consumer Duty board reports

'Data is not a by-product of systems; it is a core governance asset'

Chris Davies
clock 27 March 2026 • 6 min read
FCA 'consistently behind the curve' on British Steel – Complaints Commissioner

FCA 'consistently behind the curve' on British Steel – Complaints Commissioner

Regulator hits back at Complaints Commissioner’s final report

Jenna Brown
clock 26 March 2026 • 3 min read