Financial Ombudsman Service appoints Nausicaa Delfas as interim chief executive & chief ombudsman

Nausicaa joins the organisation from the Financial Conduct Authority, where she is currently the Executive Director of International and Interim Chief Operating Officer.

Announcing the appointment, Chairman Baroness Zahida Manzoor CBE said:

“I am delighted to welcome Nausicaa Delfas to the Financial Ombudsman Service as our interim Chief executive and chief ombudsman; she brings a wealth of experience and a firm understanding of the environment within which we are operating and the challenges that lie ahead. The service enters this financial year ready to move beyond PPI and focussed on providing a timely and efficient service to our customers. And we do so, looking ahead, albeit cautiously, to more positive times as we emerge from a global pandemic. The board, the executive team and I are looking forward to working with Nausicaa.

As we welcome Nausicaa’s appointment, we say goodbye, of course, to Caroline Wayman, whose departure comes at the end of a long career at the Ombudsman Service. Caroline has led the service through significant milestones, most recently, of course, during a global pandemic, ensuring operational resilience and balancing the dual responsibilities of serving customers and supporting staff, during the most challenging of times. On behalf of the board, the executive team and everyone at the service, we wish Caroline the very best in her future endeavours.”

The incoming interim Chief executive and chief ombudsman, Nausicaa Delfas said:

“I am honoured to be appointed interim Chief Executive and Chief Ombudsman of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

The Financial Ombudsman Service plays an essential role in ensuring the financial system works for everyone - financial services firms, consumers and businesses.

Building on Caroline Wayman’s legacy, my priority will be to lead the Financial Ombudsman Service to ensure we deliver an effective and reliable service.”

Nausicaa officially takes up the role on 17 May and will be in post while the Financial Ombudsman Service’s board carries out an open recruitment process for a permanent Chief executive and chief ombudsman. 

Notes for editors

Interim arrangements

Until Nausicaa Delfas takes up her appointment, Julia Cavanagh (Chief financial officer at the Financial Ombudsman Service) will be acting Chief executive and Garry Wilkinson (Principal ombudsman and director of investigation) will be acting Chief ombudsman.

Biography for Nausicaa Delfas

Nausicaa joins the organisation from the Financial Conduct Authority where she is currently the Executive Director of International and interim Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for its global strategy and operations. Nausicaa has previously held many senior roles at the FCA, including Enforcement, Supervision, Risk and Policy. She has led innovative and complex transformational initiatives, including most recently the FCA’s response to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Previously, she has been responsible for internal transformational changes, and the transfer of consumer credit regulation to the FCA from the Office of Fair Trading in 2014. She is a solicitor, having trained and qualified at City law firm Freshfields in London.