Former UK Financial Regulator Joins Ernst & Young

Ernst and Young has hired the former chief of a leading UK financial regulator to head its European regulatory services.

EY said Thursday, February 11, that Christopher Woolard will join the firm in April, “working with senior policymakers and firms around the world” as the head of the firm’s financial services regulatory operations in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa. Until September, Woolard was interim CEO of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates UK financial markets.

He will also chair the firm’s Global Financial Services Regulatory Network, according to a person briefed on his appointment.

Earlier this month, Mr Woolard published a review of Britain’s unsecured credit market, in which he called for “buy now pay later” firms such as Klarna to be brought within the remit of full FCA regulation.

His appointment will come nearly six months after his departure from the FCA, which is likely to diminish criticism of his move from Britain’s main markets regulator to the private sector.

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