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

Susan Webb

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2013

Career history

  • Adjudicator, Solicitors Regulation Authority
  • Manager, Client Relations Office, The Law Society
  • Manager, Solicitors Practice Unit, Office for the Supervision of Solicitors
  • Solicitor, Private practice

Suzannah Stuart

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2010

Career history

  • Manager of Retail Policy and Retail Themes, the Financial Services Authority
  • Marketing Manager, Abbey National

Tania Henry

Ombudsman

Appointed March 2024

Career history

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

Tara Richardson

Ombudsman

Appointed October 2019

Career history

  • Customer Care Manager, Allied Irish Bank (GB)
  • Customer Experience Manager, Savings Direct, Allied Irish Bank (GB)
  • Customer Care - Senior Banking Official, Allied Irish Bank (GB)

Tero Hiltunen

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2016

Career history

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

Terry Woodham

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2017

Career history

  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Administrator, Crispin Spears and Partners
  • Customer Service Officer, Coutts and Co

Thom Bennett

Ombudsman

Appointed June 2021

Career history

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

Thomas Brissenden

Ombudsman

Appointed November 2016

Career history

  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Personal Banker, Santander

Thomas Cardia

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2023

Career history

  • Senior Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Senior Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adviser, Santander

Thomas White

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2017

Career history

  • Lead Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

Timothy Bailey

Ombudsman

Appointed August 2014

Career history

  • Interim Director of Scrutiny and Quality, Professional Standards Authority
  • Head of Referrals, Standards Board for England
  • Investigator, Independent Housing Ombudsman

Timothy Doe

Ombudsman

Appointed March 2024

Career history

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

Previous 41 of 43 Next