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

Leah Nagle

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2016

Career history

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

Leanne McEvoy

Ombudsman

Appointed October 2018

Career history

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

Leon Livermore

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2024

Career history

  • Operations Manager, 24hr Response City of Westminster
  • Head of Supporting Businesses and Communities, Cambridgeshire County Council
  • Chief Executive, Chartered Trading Standards Institute

Lesley Stead

Ombudsman

Appointed May 2010

Career history

  • Senior Investigator, Pensions Ombudsman
  • Principal Legal Officer, Office of the Building Societies Ombudsman
  • Assistant Area Director, Legal Aid

Liam Davies

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2024

Career history

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

Liam Hickey

Ombudsman

Appointed October 2019

Career history

  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service  
  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service  
  • Operational Contact Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service

Liam King

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2017

Career history

  • Service Improvement Partner, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Lindsey Woloski

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2009

Career history

  • Legal Counsel, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Assistant Casework Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Barrister, Private Practice

Lisa Barham

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2020

Career history

  • Primary School Teacher, Essex County Council
  • Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Lead Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Lisa de Noronha

Ombudsman

Appointed May 2016

Career history

  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Events Administrator, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust

Lisa Lowe

Ombudsman

Appointed April 2018 

Career history 

  • Team manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Customer services manager, Upad
  • Operations Manager, James and Beckett Solicitors

Liz Easton

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2023

  • Head of Operational Contact, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Operational Contact Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Executive Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service

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