Our Ombudsmen make final decisions in cases where we can’t resolve a consumer’s complaint about a business more informally. If someone who has made a complaint accepts an Ombudsman’s final decision, the business involved has to do what the decision says. Find out more about how we make decisions.

Appointments to the panel of Ombudsmen are made under paragraphs 4 and 5 of schedule 17 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Our Chairman and Board of Directors are responsible for appointing our Ombudsmen. Find out more about how our service is governed.

Last updated: 23 October 2024

Chief Ombudsman

Abby Thomas

Chief Executive and Chief Ombudsman

Appointed October 2022

Career history

  • Director of Strategy Marketing and Transformation, Virgin Media O2
  • Executive Customer Director, Virgin Media O2
  • Global Head of Customer Operations, Vodafone Business 
  • Transformation Director, BT

Deputy Chief Ombudsman

James Dipple-Johnstone

Deputy Chief Ombudsman

Appointed October 2022

Career history

  • Deputy Commissioner and Chief Regulating Officer, Information Commissioners Office
  • Director of Investigation and Supervision, Solicitor’s Regulation Authority
  • Operations Director, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
  • Commissioner, North West England Police Forces

Senior Ombudsmen

Richard West

Director of Casework Policy

Appointed December 2022

Career history

  • Lead Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Solicitor, Private Practice

Pat Hurley

Ombudsman Director

Appointed December 2022

Career history

  • Lead Ombudsman and Director of Casework, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Director of Casework, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Head of Casework Teams, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Manager, Paralegal Firm

Rachel Lam

Ombudsman Director

Appointed January 2023

Career history

  • Ombudsman Leader, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Head of Casework Operations (new services), Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Head of Casework teams (mortgages), Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Social Fund Manager, London and the South East, Jobcentre Plus, DWP

Clare Mortimer

Ombudsman Leader

Appointed April 2014

Career history

  • Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Casework Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Deputy Complaints Manager, Office of the Banking Ombudsman

Vivienne Kelly

Ombudsman Director

Appointed January 2023

Career history

  • Head of Customer Service, Shell Energy
  • General Manager, Capita Customer Management
  • Senior Client Relationship Manager, Equidebt Limited
  • Senior Manager, Collections Operations, Black Horse Finance

  • Head of Customer Service,  Lloyds TSB Autolease

Our Ombudsmen in alphabetical order

Faruk Miah

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2024

Career history

  • Customer Resolution Manager, Metro Bank
  • Adjudicator, Housing Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Farzana Miah

Ombudsman

Appointed June 2021

Career history

  • Senior Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Faye Brownhill

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2020

Career history

  • Senior investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Fiona Mallinson

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2023

Career history

  • Senior Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Fiona Robinson

Ombudsman

Appointed October 2010

Career history

  • Consumer Advice Officer, Trading Standards, Middlesborough Council
  • Licensing Support, Gateshead Council
  • Customer Services, Npower

Frances Young

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2023

Career history

  • Senior Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Store Manager, Joy the Store
  • Concession Manager, Mimco

Gagandeep Singh

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2020

 Career history

  • Senior investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Garry Hunter

Ombudsman

Appointed October 2019

Career history

  • Head of Claims Management Regulation / Accountable Executive, Financial Conduct Authority
  • Senior Manager, Financial Conduct Authority
  • Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service 

Gary Lane

Ombudsman

Appointed October 2019

Career history

  • Inspector on Local Policing Team for the South Local Policing Area, Essex Police
  • Acting Chief Inspector as Southend District Commander, Essex Police
  • Sergeant managing the community policing team in the Southend district, Essex Police.

Gavin Cook

Ombudsman

Appointed May 2016

Career history

  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Mortgage and Financial Advisor, Barclays Bank Plc

Gemma Bowen

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2013

Career history

  • Dispute Resolution Solicitor, Insight Law LLP
  • Head of Consumer Focus Investigations, Consumer Focus
  • Consultant Solicitor, Hek Jones Solicitors

Gemma Warner

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2019

Career history

  • Shareholder Services Senior Manager, Link Asset Services
  • Dedicated Client Team Manager, Capita Asset Services
  • Service Quality Assistant Manager, Capita Asset Services

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