Our Ombudsmen

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: 8 April 2024

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

View Abby Thomas profile

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

View James Dipple-Johnstone profile

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

View Richard West profile

Tim Archer

Ombudsman Director

Appointed December 2022

Career history

  • Lead Ombudsman and Director of Casework, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Director of casework, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Assistant director of PPI, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Head of casework operations, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Head of Cash Performance UK operations, Barclays

View Tim Archer profile

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

View Pat Hurley profile

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

View Rachel Lam profile

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

View Clare Mortimer profile

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

View Vivienne Kelly profile

Our Ombudsmen in alphabetical order

Anne Scarr

Ombudsman

Appointed October 2017

Career history

  • Financial Crime Operations Manager, Secure Trust Bank
  • Financial Crime Investigator/Team Leader, Barclays Bank
  • Senior Policy Lead, Judicial Appointments Commission

View Anne Scarr profile

Anthony Mullins

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2023

Career history

  • Senior Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Duty Manager, Surrey Sports Park
  • Senior Recreational Assistant, Surrey Sports park
  • Recreational Assistant, Surrey Sports Park

View Anthony Mullins profile

Anujit Chatterjee

Ombudsman

Appointed June 2021

Career history

  • Commercial Solicitor, Harper James
  • Solicitor and Contract Negotiator, Lloyds Banking Group

View Anujit Chatterjee profile

Arazu Eid

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2019

Career history 

  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Director, Property Inventory Company

View Arazu Eid profile

Artemis Pantelides

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2017

Career history

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

View Artemis Pantelides profile

Asa Burnett

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2023

Career history

  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Contractor, Citibank

View Asa Burnett profile

Ash Weedon

Ombudsman

Appointed June 2021

Career history

  • Senior Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Executive Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

View Ash Weedon profile

Asher Gordon

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2021

Career history

  • Senior Legal Officer, Office of the Building Societies Ombudsman
  • In-house Barrister, Jacobson Ridley Solicitors

View Asher Gordon profile

Asma Begum

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2017

Career history

  • Policy and Communications Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Personal Assistant to CEO, Vibrance

View Asma Begum profile

Ayisha Savage

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2020

Career history

  • Senior Crown Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution Service
  • Barrister, Private Practice, Verulam Chambers
  • Barrister, Private Practice, Grays Inn Chambers

View Ayisha Savage profile

Ayshea Khan

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2014

Career history

  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Company Commercial Solicitor, Palmers Solicitors
  • Criminal Psychologist, Prison Service

View Ayshea Khan profile

Barry White

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2020

Career history

  • Regional Director Commercial Banking, National Westminster Bank plc
  • Regional Director Business & Commercial Banking, Royal Bank of Scotland plc 

View Barry White profile