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.
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
Sharon Parr
Ombudsman
Appointed February 2020
Career history
- Director of Strategic Operations, Carlisle Cathedral
- Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Associate, Litigation and Commercial Disputes, Addleshaw Goddard
Sheryl Sibley
Ombudsman
Appointed June 2021
Career history
- Senior Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Consumer Consultant, Financial Ombudsman Service
Sian Brightey
Ombudsman
Appointed March 2016
Career history
- Head of Casework Teams, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Customer Administration Manager, HCA International
- Medical Risk and Policy Manager, Bupa International
Sienna Mahboobani
Ombudsman
Appointed September 2017
Career history
- Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Paralegal, Civil Aviation Authority
Simon Begley
Ombudsman
Appointed November 2020
Career history
- Independent regulatory consultant, various financial institutions
- Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Senior Policy Associate, Financial Services Authority
Simon Coe
Ombudsman
Appointed November 2016
Career history
- Head of Casework, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Operations Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Senior Case Officer, PIA Ombudsman Bureau
Simon Dibble
Ombudsman
Appointed June 2011
Career history
- Casework Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Financial Adviser, Bank of Scotland Investment Service
- Solicitor, Private Practice
Simon Fox
Ombudsman
Appointed August 2022
Career history
- Risk Consultant, Quintet Private Bank
- Compliance Monitoring Consultant, Standard Life
- Assurance Business Partner, Yorkshire Building Society
Simon Hollingshead
Ombudsman
Appointed January 2017
Career history
- Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Single Point of Contact, Friends Life
Simon Leach
Ombudsman
Appointed September 2006
Career history
- Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Assistant Pensions Manager, Blick Rothenberg
- Broker-consultant, Scottish Equitable
Simon Louth
Ombudsman
Appointed July 2019
Career history
- Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Consumer Consultant, Financial Ombudsman Service
Simon Pugh
Ombudsman
Appointed October 2013
Career history
- Head of Legal Services, Shelter
- Solicitor, Wilson Solicitors LLP
- Practice Manager, Wilson Solicitors LLP
