FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY BOARD APPOINTMENTS

29 Jan 2001 12:00 AM

Economic Secretary Melanie Johnson today announced the appointment of Ms Kyra Bergin, Tom de Swaan and Clive Wilkinson to the Board of the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Miss Johnson said:

''I am delighted to announce these appointments, which will bring a welcome range of experience and perspectives to the Board.

''Tom de Swaan and Kyra Bergin both have experience of international financial services regulation and markets, while Clive Wilkinson will bring a perspective from outside the financial services sector to the Board. ''It is important that Board members have a diverse range of backgrounds at this crucial stage in the FSA''s development.''

Chairman of the FSA, Sir Howard Davies, added:

''We are very pleased that Kyra Bergin, Tom de Swaan and Clive Wilkinson are joining the FSA Board. They bring the mix of experience and abilities we need. I would like to thank the departing members of the Board - Robert Smith, Stephen Thieke and Keith Oates - for their major contribution to the development of the FSA.''

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Biographical Details

Kyra Bergin: Managing Director and Regional General Counsel at Salomon Smith Barney/Citibank, with regulatory and compliance responsibility for 53 countries in Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa (1999-2000); Managing Director and European General Counsel, with responsibility for Western and Eastern European legal issues, corporate finance and securities trading, EU regulatory issues and international financial transactions (1985-99).

Tom de Swaan : Managing Board of ABN AMRO Bank N. V. since 1998; previously executive director in charge of banking supervision Dutch Central Bank. Formerly Chairman of the Joint Forum on Financial Conglomerates and the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision; former member of the banking supervisory committee of the European Monetary Institute.

Clive Wilkinson : Chairman, West Midlands Region of the NHS Executive and Chairman of OFWAT Central Customer Services Committee; Chairman, Wolverhampton Health Care NHS Trust 1994-97, previously member of Audit Commission, Local Government Commission and the Electricity Consumers'' Council. Leader of Birmingham City Council 1979-84.

2. Appointments to the Board of the FSA are made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the advice of a Selection Panel. In line with the recommendations of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, vacancies are advertised and are open to public nomination. These appointments were advertised in October 2000, and the Selection Panel consisted of Sir Steve Robson (HM Treasury), Sir Howard Davies (FSA) and Joanna Foster (Equal Opportunities Commission).

3. Members of the Board of the Financial Services Authority (as at 19 January 2001).

Sir Howard Davies Executive Chairman, FSA

Stewart Boyd, QC Deputy Chairman, the FSA Bencher, Middle Temple

Kyra Bergin Formerly Managing Director and Regional General Counsel, Salomon Smith Barney/Citibank

Moira Black, CBE Chairman, Consumer Communications for England; Vice Chairman, University of North London Director; North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

David Clementi Deputy Governor (Financial Stability), Bank of England

Tom de Swaan Managing Board Member, ABN AMRO Bank NV

Michael Foot Managing Director and Head of Financial Supervision, FSA

Deirdre Hutton, CBE Chairman, National Consumer Council Member, Better Regulation Task Force

Gillian Nott, OBE Chairman, Baronsmead Venture Capital Trust Plc; Director, Foreign and Colonial Pacific Investment Trust Ltd.

Keith Oates Director, British Telecommunications Plc; Director, Diageo Plc

Christopher Rodrigues Group Chief Executive, Bradford & Bingley plc; Director, Energis Plc

Dr Shamit Saggar Reader in Government, Queen Mary & Westfield College; University of London Board; Member, National Consumer Council

Phillip Thorpe Managing Director and Head of Authorisation, Enforcement & Consumer Relations, FSA

Keith Whitson Group Chief Executive, HSBC Holdings Plc

Clive Wilkinson Chairman, West Midlands Region of the NHS Executive

4. Media enquiries should be addressed to Charles Keseru at the Treasury press office on 020 7270 5188 or Robin Gordon-Walker in the FSA press office on 020 7676 3232.

5. This press release and other Treasury related information can be found on the Treasury website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.