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Industry update

JFSC increases executive team capacity and capability

The Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) has boosted its executive leadership team with the appointment of three new executive directors.

Liam Ronan has been appointed as Executive Director of Technology and Data and will be responsible for the delivery of the JFSC’s digital transformation programme. Currently the JFSC’s Interim Director of Technology, he will formally join the executive board on 1 January 2024. Prior to joining the JFSC, Liam was the Group IT Director of Persimmon Plc, a leading UK housebuilder and FTSE-listed company. He was also Managing Director of FibreNest, Persimmon’s full-fibre broadband business.

The JFSC has also expanded the remit and scope of the Director of Risk role and has appointed Chris Gedrych as Chief Risk Officer. In his new role, Chris will have responsibility for operational and regulatory risk, assurance, information management, data protection and legal. He joined the JFSC in January 2022, having spent the previous six years at Standard Bank Offshore Group both as Head of Audit and, latterly, as Head of Operational Risk.

As part of the JFSC’s succession planning, current Executive Director of Registry, Julian Lamb, will become Executive Director of Registry Projects, responsible for strategic project delivery given the number of key projects that need to be advanced in early 2024. Julian will leave the JFSC at the end of June 2024 after 25 years.

Current Director of Registry, Beverley Kent, has been appointed Executive Director of Registry, effective from 8 January. She joined the JFSC in July 2023 having spent 17 years at EFG Wealth Solutions (Jersey) Ltd, latterly as Director of EFG Fund Administration and Director of Fund Governance.

The JFSC will be advertising for a new Executive Director of Policy following the departure of Diane Maxwell at the end of 2023 after three years in post. This appointment will provide further focus on policy evolution, local and international stakeholder engagement, inter-agency collaboration and development of the JFSC’s innovation hub proposition. To ensure continuity and momentum whilst recruitment is completed, David Eacott will lead the Policy Team, as well as Supervision, on an interim basis.

Jill Britton, Director General at the JFSC, said: “With the appointment of Liam and Chris to their new roles, I’m delighted that our executive board fully reflects how fundamental effective risk management and digital innovation are to how we operate as a regulator and as an organisation. I’m also delighted to welcome Beverley to the executive board following her arrival earlier in the year. These new appointments will significantly strengthen our executive director team. We also look forward to welcoming a new Executive Director of Policy in due course and would like to thank Diane for her leadership of our Policy division during a significant period for the JFSC. Whilst Julian is not leaving us just yet, I would like to take the opportunity to share my sincere thanks and appreciation for his sustained commitment and achievements over the last 25 years.”