Non-executive directors to be subject to new FCA regime
NON-EXECUTIVE Directors (NEDs) with specific responsibilities, such as chairman, are now subject to a City code designed to strengthen individual accountability.
Following a detailed consultation across the financial services industry led by city watchdog the FCA and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), a Senior Managers Regime (SMR) has been brought in.
But it was also decided the regime would not apply to those NEDs who do not perform delegated responsibilities.
Martin Wheatley, chief executive of the FCA, said: “Our approach is driven by wanting to ensure firms are managed in a way that reflects good governance and promotes the right culture and behaviours. Having a narrow SMR will also allow the FCA to focus regulatory resources on those responsible for key business areas and board committees. We want those senior individuals to be held accountable for the decisions they make and oversee. This is what people inside and outside the banking sector expect.
“NEDs play a vital role in providing challenge to and an independent oversight of the executive directors. Including all NEDs in the new regime would risk the unintended consequence of changing the whole nature of this vital role.”
The NED roles that will be in scope of the SMR are chairman; senior independent director; and the chairs of the risk, audit, remuneration and nominations committees.
The individuals performing these roles will be subject to all aspects of the SMR, including regulatory pre-approval, the FCA’s and PRA’s new conduct rules and the presumption of responsibility.
Those NEDs who fall outside of the SMR will no longer be subject to regulatory pre-approval, will not be subject to the conduct rules nor the presumption of responsibility.
Within the regime, senior executives will be expected to take accountability for the conduct of the business for which they are responsible. They are in a position to exercise a strong influence on the business and its culture through incentives and the messages that they give to staff.
This clear line of accountability can have a positive effect on the culture of firms and on outcomes for consumers and markets, the FCA claims.
The FCA and PRA also published a consultation on proposed whistleblowing rules for banks, building societies, credit unions and insurers.
This includes a requirement for firms to appoint a whistleblowers’ champion, who will be responsible for overseeing the effectiveness of internal whistleblowing arrangements, preparing an annual report to the board on their operation, and reporting to the regulator where an employment tribunal finds in favour of the whistleblower. The importance of robust internal whistleblowing procedures within firms was a key conclusion of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards’ report.
