Rachel Reeves has fired the beginning gun on the hunt for Britain’s subsequent high financial institution regulator – and is asking on senior financiers to enter the race as candidates.
Sky Information can reveal that the chancellor has formally initiated a seek for the subsequent chief government of the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which sits inside the Financial institution of England.
In a recruitment commercial which went reside on Friday, the Treasury mentioned “senior government expertise in a significant financial institution, insurer or different monetary establishment” was certainly one of two “fascinating standards” for the eventual appointee.
The federal government is in search of a chief government to serve for 5 years, consistent with the time period of the Monetary Conduct Authority’s (FCA) boss, Nikhil Rathi.
Sam Woods, who will step down in June subsequent yr, has served for 2 five-year phrases.
His successor will earn £314,000-a-year, in line with the recruitment advert, roughly consistent with Mr Woods’ pay bundle.
Final month, Sky Information revealed that Ms Reeves was eager to recruit a heavyweight outsider to run the PRA, with Katharine Braddick, a senior Barclays government who beforehand labored on the Treasury, among the many anticipated contenders.
The wording of the job spec might lengthen the percentages on the appointment of an inner candidate equivalent to David Bailey, the Financial institution of England’s government director for prudential coverage.
Ms Reeves’s need for an outsider with trade expertise comes amid a wider push for Britain’s financial watchdogs to take away pink tape and reorient themselves in the direction of growth-focused insurance policies.
A Treasury insider mentioned the chancellor regarded the PRA chief government recruitment course of to be a key part of the federal government’s drive to jumpstart financial development.
Subsequent month, she’s going to current her Funds, a fiscal occasion on which the federal government’s financial credibility is more likely to relaxation.
Candidates to exchange Mr Woods are anticipated to be interviewed within the new yr, with an appointment seemingly by the spring.
Mr Woods has been considered as a possible candidate to succeed Andrew Bailey when the Financial institution of England governor’s time period runs out in 2028, though it’s unclear whether or not he covets the job.
As CEO of the PRA, Mr Woods can also be a deputy governor of the Financial institution of England, a member of the Financial institution’s Court docket of Administrators, and a director of the FCA.
The chancellor has already proven a willingness to recruit outsiders to senior roles on the Treasury, appointing Financial institution of America funding banking veteran Jim O’Neil as second everlasting secretary to the Treasury earlier this yr.
Mr O’Neil had additionally served as the top of UK Monetary Investments, the company set as much as handle taxpayers’ stakes in Britain’s bailed-out banks.
The Treasury declined to remark additional.
