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

Ifrah Malik

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2016

Career history

  • Executive Adviser, Chief Executive's Office, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Lawyer, Private Practice

Irene Martin

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2020

Career history

  • Trustee Director, Northern Bank Pension Trust Limited
  • Senior Corporate Lawyer, Northern Bank Limited (trading as Danske Bank)
  • Solicitor, Private Practice, Arthur Cox (NI)

Israr Ahmed

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2024

Career history

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

Ivor Graham

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2014

Career history

  • Tax Consultant, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • Deputy Director, Customer Directorate, HM Revenue & Customs
  • Technical and Policy Adviser, Business Tax Directorate, HM Revenue & Customs

Jack Baldry

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2016

Career history

  • Lead Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Helpline Legal Adviser, Right Corecare

Jack Evans

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2024

Career history

  • Senior Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Banking Advisor, Lloyds Banking Group

Jack Ferris

Ombudsman

Appointed June 2016

Career history

  • Account manager, Jobserve Ltd
  • Claims manager, Earthquake Commission of New Zealand
  • Lead Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service.

Jade Alexander

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2017

Career history

  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Removals Manager, Home Office
  • Immigration Caseworker, UK Border Agency

Jade Cunningham

Ombudsman

Appointed October 2019

Career history

  • Operations Team Leader, Independent Office for Police Conduct
  • Lead Investigator, Independent Police Complaints Commission
  • Job Finder, Orchard Hill College

Jade Rowe

Ombudsman

Appointed May 2016

Career history

  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Executive Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Jag Dhuphar

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2017

Career history

  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Solicitor, Private Practice

James Akehurst

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2023

Career history

  • Quality Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Quality Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Senior Bank Assistant, M&S Bank

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