PRESS RELEASE 9 August 2006
Jersey Financial Services Commission appoints New Director
General
The Jersey Financial Services Commission (the “Commission”)
today, 9 August 2006, announces the appointment of John Harris
as the next Director General to replace David Carse on the
latter’s retirement on completion of his promised three
year term of office from which the Commission, the finance
industry and the Island has benefited greatly.
John Harris is currently Director – International Finance
in the Chief Minister’s Department of the States of
Jersey. In this role he has advised the Chief Minister, the
Minister for Economic Development and the Treasury Minister
on a wide range of matters including legislation and policy
impacting on the regulation and the development of the finance
industry where the approval of Ministers and/or the States
is required. Prior to his appointment to that position in
2002 he was Chief Executive Officer for NatWest Offshore.
Commission Chairman, Colin Powell CBE, said, “we are
delighted to be able to make this appointment. We are facing
a period of consolidation of regulatory legislation and practice
with particular emphasis on the most effective management
of the Commission’s resources while continuing to deliver
effective supervision of the finance industry to international
standards. John comes to us with considerable management experience
combined with extensive industry and public policy experience
relevant to the role of the Commission.
“Working with the existing strong team of executives
in the Commission we are confident that John brings to the
Commission skills and experience ideally suited to the key
tasks before us in the years ahead.
“We are also confident that he will build on the legacy
to be left by his predecessor and maintain the existing good
relationship the Commission has with the Island authorities,
the finance industry and the international community.
“We welcome John very warmly to the Commission.”
John Harris Biography
As the first Director – International Finance in the
Chief Minister’s Department John Harris has been responsible
for all aspects of the Island’s approach to the development
and maintenance of Jersey’s successful financial services
industry. The principal features of this ground breaking role
are:
- Government development strategy for financial services
in Jersey including fiscal strategy, education and training
needs;
- International relations including OECD and EU tax initiatives;
- new legislation in support of finance industry needs;
- close liaison with senior figures in Government, the Commission
and the finance industry; and
- regular representative for the Jersey Government on finance
industry matters – in both domestic and international
arenas.
From 1998 to 2002 he was Chief Executive Officer for NatWest
Offshore with responsibility for offices in Jersey, Guernsey,
Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Cayman, Bermuda and the Bahamas. He
spent 22 years working for NatWest Bank during which time
he held management positions in France, Switzerland and Singapore.
John Harris obtained a BA (Hons) at Exeter University and
is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. He is fluent
in French and Spanish. He is married with three children.
- Ends -
For further information, please contact:
Colin Powell, CBE
Chairman
Jersey Financial Services Commission
Tel: + 44 (0) 1534 822114
Fax: + 44 (0) 1534 822001
Email: c.powell@jerseyfsc.org
Notes to Editors.
The recruitment process was undertaken in accordance with
the corporate governance procedures required by the Jersey
Appointments Commission – a body set up by the States
of Jersey to overview all senior public sector appointments.
A representative of the Commission participated in the selection
of the successful candidate. The position was advertised and
a firm of recruitment consultants were also employed to do
a target search. Over fifty candidates were considered.
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