An insider’s guide to the laws dictating life within UK and EU financial services, the people influencing their development and policing finance workers’ compli...
Alan Houmann, Citigroup's former government affairs head in Emea, on navigating rising populism and what not to do in response to "disturbing" government policies
Today’s guest outlines how he expects the rightward shift in global politics, from Trump’s resurgence to Europe’s own populist movements, is likely to reshape financial services regulation in the UK and EU.
He discusses how bank lobbyists and policymakers can navigate these shifting tides, why the industry’s “disturbing” response to the US ban on federal diversity and inclusion programmes must serve as a wake-up call, and how he believes UK and EU policymakers can best drive growth in this era of rising political uncertainty.
And he should know. Because Alan Houmann’s near 40-year career includes stints as an economist at the UK Treasury, advising the European Commission and FCA predecessor the Financial Services Authority on financial services policy, and 16 years leading government affairs across EMEA for US banking giant Citigroup. Since 2023, he has worked as a trustee for thinktank Chatham House and in 2024 he became senior policy adviser to consultancy Rud Pedersen.
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29:27
London Stock Exchange CEO Julia Hoggett on the changes needed to boost the City and its capital markets
Today’s guest outlines why she believes the government’s efforts to boost the UK’s economic growth are more likely to succeed if they include a fundamental shift in how the City talks about its capital markets and a rethink of how the City’s regulators are incentivised to support the growth mission.
She also discusses the remaining regulatory steps needed to encourage more retail and domestic participation in London’s capital markets, and ultimately give the UK’s equity capital markets a long-anticipated boost.
Julia Hoggett’s career includes several senior roles at some of the world’s largest banks, and a seven-year stint at the Financial Conduct Authority. Since 2021, she has run the London Stock Exchange as its CEO.
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47:30
Special episode: Smarsh's Kim Crawford Goodman and CallCabinet's Ryan Kahan on the regulatory trends set to shape communications surveillance in 2025
Today’s episode is a special one produced in association with Smarsh, a global technology firm providing financial services companies of all sizes around the world with the tools to capture, store, and monitor their communications.
Today’s guests discuss the regulatory priorities they believe will have the greatest influence on financial institutions’ communications surveillance programmes in 2025 and beyond.
They detail the common mistakes finance bosses must avoid when seeking to respond to these increasing regulatory demands.
And they outline how the vast volumes of communications data currently being gathered by financial institutions for compliance purposes can also be used strategically to help these same institutions grow their businesses.
Kim Crawford Goodman is CEO of Smarsh. Ryan Kahan is co-founder and CEO of CallCabinet, a technology firm recently acquired by Smarsh, which captures voice and video communications data.
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32:35
FCA CEO Nikhil Rathi on his to-do list for 2025, the regulator's future, and life at the helm of the City watchdog
Today’s guest discusses the Financial Conduct Authority’s to-do list for 2025 and outlines what City firms should and should not expect from the regulator as it seeks to prioritise growth and competitiveness in the coming months.
He details the challenges commensurate with this new approach that he would like lawmakers to be more aware of.
He also opens up about life at the helm of the City watchdog, his strategies for copying with the “intense public scrutiny” that has dominated his tenure as CEO of the FCA, and plenty more in between.
Nikhil Rathi’s 23-year career includes several senior roles within previous Labour, Conservative and coalition governments’ Treasury departments and just under five years as chief executive of the London Stock Exchange plc.
Since 2020, he has overseen regulation of the UK financial services sector as CEO of the FCA.
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50:57
IA's Chris Cummings calls on lawmakers and regulators to agree a 'common vision' with the investment management sector and outlines the rules that must be cut in the drive to boost UK growth
Today’s guest calls on the government and City regulators to agree a “common vision” with the investment management industry to better enable those working in the sector to generate long-term growth in the UK.
He details the areas where he believes the Financial Conduct Authority “still needs to demonstrate that they have completely understood” the government’s drive to make the UK a more attractive investment destination.
He also explains why he supports calls to get rid of what he sees as unnecessary red tape introduced under the Senior Managers and Certification regime, and plenty more besides.
Chris Cummings’ career spans four decades and includes several senior posts in the industry, as well as within global consulting firms. He was the founding chief executive of lobby group TheCityUK from 2010 until 2016 when he became CEO of the Investment Association, the trade body for UK-based investment managers.
An insider’s guide to the laws dictating life within UK and EU financial services, the people influencing their development and policing finance workers’ compliance
Ireland