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

Callum Milne

Ombudsman

Appointed December 2019

Career history

  • Technical Desk Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Executive Officer and Content Expert, American Express Insurance Services Europe Limited

View Callum Milne profile

Camilla Finnigan

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2016

Career history

  • Lead Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Team Manager, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Research Assistant, Globe Business Publishing

View Camilla Finnigan profile

Carole Clark

Ombudsman

Appointed May 2013

Career history

  • Customer Care & Complaints Manager, Islington Council
  • Adjudicator, Tenancy Dispute Service
  • Corporate Complaints Officer, Islington Council

View Carole Clark profile

Caroline Davies

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2014

Career history

  • Senior Associate, Penningtons Manches LLP
  • Solicitor/Senior Manager, Age UK
  • Assistant Solicitor, RadcliffesLeBrasseur

View Caroline Davies profile

Caroline Kirby

Ombudsman

Appointed March 2024

Career history

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

View Caroline Kirby profile

Carolyn Bonnell

Ombudsman

Appointed November 2014

Career history

  • Solicitor/Higher Courts Advocate/Team Leader, GT Stewart
  • Solicitor, O'Keeffe Solicitors

View Carolyn Bonnell profile

Carolyn Harwood

Ombudsman

Appointed May 2013

Career history

  • Barrister and Solicitor, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, New Zealand
  • Senior Solicitor, Denton Wilde Sapte LLP
  • Legal Counsel, The Royal Bank of Scotland

View Carolyn Harwood profile

Cassie Lauder

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2023

Career history

  • Senior Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Claims Manager, HSBC Insurance 

View Cassie Lauder profile

Catarina Machado Pinto Simoes

Ombudsman

Appointed September 2023

Career history

  • Investigator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Quality Control (Packaged Bank Accounts), Barclays
  • Packaged Bank Accounts Complaints Handler, Barclays

View Catarina Machado Pinto Simoes profile

Catherine Langley

Ombudsman

Appointed July 2016

Career history

  • Lead Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Associate Director of Rathbone Investment Management

View Catherine Langley profile

Chandni Green

Ombudsman

Appointed January 2017

Career history

  • Executive Adviser, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Outreach Officer, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service

View Chandni Green profile

Chantelle Hurn-Ryan

Ombudsman

Appointed February 2013

Career history

  • Adjudicator, Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Broker Service Specialist, Edward Jones

View Chantelle Hurn-Ryan profile