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: 24 April 2025

Interim Chief Ombudsman

James Dipple-Johnstone

Interim 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

Rachel Lam

Managing Ombudsman Director (interim)

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

Richard West

Ombudsman Director

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

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

James Mycroft

Ombudsman Director

Appointed January 2025

Career history 

  • Head of Strategy, Shawbrook Bank
  • Chief Operations Officer, Sonovate
  • Head of Customer Service, Principality Building Society
  • Chief Operating Officer, Nemo Personal Finance
  • Non-Executive Director, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust
  • Director of Customer Service, BT Group

Andy Wright

Ombudsman Director (interim)

Appointed April 2020

Career history

  • Director of Mergers, Competition & Markets Authority
  • Director, Mergers, Markets and Regulatory Appeals, Competition Commission
  • Corporate Finance Manager, Deloitte
  • Assurance and Advisory Manager, Andersen

Our Ombudsmen in alphabetical order

Nimisha Radia

Ombudsman

Appointed May 2016

Career history

  • Head of Casework Teams, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Nina Walter

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2015

Career history

  • Head of Passport and Visa Section, German Embassy, London
  • Deputy Head of Legal and Consular Department, German Embassy, Tel Aviv
  • Head of Passport and Visa Section, German Embassy, Tel Aviv

Oyetola Oduola

Ombudsman

Appointed April 2017

Career history

  • Executive Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Paralegal, Lonsdale and Mayall solicitors

Patricia O’Leary

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2017

Career history

  • Civil Litigation Solicitor, Stephens & Sons Solicitors
  • Senior Consultant, Diligent Law
  • Solicitor, O H Parson

Paul Blower

Ombudsman

Appointed June 2021

Career history

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

Paul Clarke

Ombudsman

Appointed June 2021

Career history

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

Paul Cooper

Ombudsman

Appointed November 2020

Career history

  • Senior Complaints Investigator, James Hay Partnership
  • Senior Complaints Investigator, Santander UK
  • Complaints Quality Assurance, Santander UK 

Paul Cronin

Ombudsman

Appointed October 2020

Career history

  • Financial Advisor, Lloyds TSB
  • Complaints Resolution Manager, NatWest
  • Complaints Team Manager, NatWest 

Paul Daniel

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2009

Career history

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

Paul Douglas

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2022

Career history

  • Head of Guidance Services, Money & Pensions Service
  • Complaints & Investigations Lead, NHS Resolution
  • Director, Financial Ombudsman Service

Paul Featherstone

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2012

Career history

  • Senior Associate, Financial Services Authority
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Paul Hamber

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2023

Career history

  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman service
  • Associate Caseworker, Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman
  • Detective Inspector, Covert Policing, Metropolitan Police
  • Detective Inspector, Intelligence Manager, Harrow Police Station
  • Detective Sergeant, Camden Community Safety Unit (MPS)
  • Detective Sergeant, CID, Hampstead Police Station

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