The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has appointed Stephen Braviner Roman as general counsel and as a member of its executive committee following an open competition.

Roman is expected to join the FCA in February next year.

Roman will join the FCA from the Government Legal Department (GLD), where he is director general of litigation, justice, and security.

In this role he oversees legal advice given to the Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, and Department for Culture, Media, and Sport.

Roman was previously responsible for the GLD's advice on the UK’s departure from the European Union. Stephen is also the GLD board’s lead on diversity and inclusion.

The FCA also announced other changes to its executive committee.

Megan Butler is set to step down from her role as executive director of transformation in the spring.

Megan joined the FCA from the Bank of England in 2016 as executive director of supervision – investment, wholesale, and specialist.

In addition, Emily Shepperd is set to lead the FCA’s transformation programme, alongside her role as executive director of authorisation.

Shepperd has spearheaded the FCA’s changes to their approach to their gateway since March according to the regulator and has been leading a number of transformation workstreams.

David Scott has held the role of general counsel on an interim basis while the FCA recruited a permanent appointee. David will continue to work at the FCA part-time during a handover period.

“Stephen’s extensive experience of advising ministers on such a wide range of legal issues and managing over 1000 lawyers will be invaluable given the scale and variety of the FCA’s remit,” said Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the FCA. “I want to thank David for so ably leading the FCA’s legal function on a temporary basis”.

She added: “My colleagues and I have been – and will continue to be over the coming months – grateful for his wise advice.

“Emily has over 20 years’ experience leading significant change initiatives as an executive leader and has made a very positive impact since her arrival at the FCA in March,” said Stephen Braviner Roman. “We welcome her expertise as she takes on a wider remit.”

"I'm delighted to be joining the excellent team at the FCA.

He added: “This is a crucial period for consumers, financial markets, and the FCA and I’m looking forward to starting."

Share Story: