EX-BRADFORD Councillor Matt Palmer has been appointed as a Commissioner of the Jersey Financial Services Commission.

Mr Palmer was brought up in Bradford District, studying at Bradford Grammar School, Ilkley Grammar School, and then at Leeds Business School (Leeds Beckett University).

He represented Wharfedale Ward on Bradford Council from 2003 to 2012, and fought the Bradford South seat for the Conservatives in the 2010 General Election. He served as an advisor to former Prime Minister David Cameron and was one of the first governors of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

After joining KPMG and qualifying as an accountant, Matt moved into technology and held a series of leadership roles at first at Skipton Building Society and then at several global financial services organisations, most recently as Chief Information Security Officer and Senior Director at global insurance giant Willis Towers Watson. He leads cyber risk consultancy Cyberclaria and serves as a board advisor to several London fintech startups.

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Mark Hoban, Chairman of the JFSC said: “Matt brings a wealth of financial services knowledge and professional expertise. His broad experience and understanding of the importance of regulation from an industry perspective, specifically on Fintech, will be hugely valuable to the Board.”

Matt Palmer added: “I am thrilled to be joining the Board to serve as a Commissioner. I know first-hand the important role that regulation plays in maintaining the highest standards for international finance. I’m very much looking forward to joining and contributing to the work the JFSC does.”