FCA commits to "more robust and efficient authorisation process" with new hires

Laura Dawes will take up one of two new authorisation director roles. Laura is currently interim director of strategy, policy, international and intelligence in the FCA’s enforcement and market oversight division.

Working alongside Laura as fellow director of authorisations will be Dominic Cashman. Dominic joins the regulator from TP ICAP, an interdealer broker, where he was most recently head of integration and transformation and, previously, interim group head of operations. Laura and Dominic will start their new roles in late April and early May.

Craig Chapman will join the FCA as finance director in May. Craig is currently chief financial officer at RTX RouteTrader, a fintech operating in the telecoms sector. Before that, Craig held senior finance roles at ED&F Man, a commodities trader, and Barclays Capital. Craig’s appointment follows the retirement of David Godfrey.

The FCA says it has committed to a "more robust and efficient authorisation process, with greater focus on the financials and business models of firms applying to operate in regulated financial markets".

As well as recruiting almost 100 new colleagues, the FCA has reformed its authorisation process with more decisions now taken by individual senior managers rather than by committees.

Emily Shepperd, chief operating officer and executive director of authorisations at the FCA, said: "I look forward to welcoming Craig, Dominic and Laura to their new roles later this spring.

"Tackling the risk of consumer harm starts when firms apply to us for authorisation. Dominic and Laura will lead this vital part of the regulatory system.

"Craig is an experienced chief financial officer who will play a central part in making sure we have the right resources and we’re using them in the best way possible to meet our important objectives."