Ashley Alder

Ashley Alder became Chair of the FCA Board in February 2023, assuming leadership of the UK's primary financial conduct regulator. He is appointed for a five-year term.

Ashley holds a Bachelor of Laws from Queen Mary (University of London) and a Master of Laws from the University of Cambridge. He began his career as a lawyer in London in 1984 and practised in Hong Kong for more than 20 years. During his legal career, he was Head of Asia at Herbert Smith LLP's Hong Kong office, and a member of the firm's Global Executive Committee.

At the FCA, Alder is known for balancing consumer protection with market dynamism. Under his leadership, the FCA increased cancelled authorisations by 121% over 3 years to keep potentially harmful firms out of markets, and tackled non-compliant financial promotions, with potentially misleading promotions removed or amended growing from 573 in 2021 to almost 20,000 in 2024. He has delivered the most significant reforms of the UK's public equity markets in a generation. Alder is committed to finding consistent international responses to cross-border regulatory challenges including ESG, Fintech and non-bank financial intermediation.

Career history

• Chair, Financial Conduct Authority (2023–present)
• Chief Executive Officer, Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), Hong Kong (2011–2023)
• Chair, International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Board (2016–2022)
• Head of Asia, Herbert Smith LLP (2004–2011)
• Executive Director, SFC Corporate Finance Division (2001–2004)

What Ashley Alder could bring to his role at the Financial Conduct Authority: Drawing from three decades of experience in international financial markets, Alder brings deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments and cross-border financial challenges. His lengthy tenure at Hong Kong's securities regulator during China's market opening, combined with his chairmanship of IOSCO, positions him to guide the FCA through emerging issues around fintech, non-bank financial intermediation, and international regulatory coordination. His track record demonstrates commitment to proactive harm prevention and market integrity while maintaining competitive capital markets.