Financial regulator Claire Whitelegg said it was a ‘no-brainer’ to join fund administration and investment management company, FIM Capital, as head of compliance and risk.

Mrs Whitelegg is a compliance practitioner in the offshore business sector carrying knowledge built during her career, including senior roles in policy, supervision and communications at the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority since 2002.

As a regulator she represented the island at international level and led work in funds, investments and consumer projects.

Her consumer work was formally recognised at the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Building Public Trust Awards in 2019 where she received the UK Consumer Marketing and Public Awareness Award for her consumer work, including the Pension Matters Campaign, World Investor Week and school outreach in financial education.

Professionally, she is a qualified chartered secretary, a chartered fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, is a law graduate and a trained radio journalist.

During her 18 years working for the island’s financial services regulatory body at a senior level, Mrs Whitelegg gained an understanding of both the local and international regulatory and compliance regime and played a significant role in the development of policy across the financial services sector.

Graham Smith, chief executive officer, said: ‘We are delighted that Claire, one of the island’s foremost regulatory and compliance practitioners, has joined the FIM Capital team; this represents a crucial appointment for the business as we build upon our period of sustained growth.

‘The experience and knowledge that Claire brings to the FIM Capital business will be invaluable as we focus on the further development and growth of the business in 2021 and beyond.’

Mrs Whitelegg said: ‘Leaving the FSA was not something I was looking to do but the opportunity to join the team at FIM Capital was one I felt I had to take. As a regulator I knew the FIM team well.

‘FIM’s philosophy of looking after their clients to the highest standard combined with a real family ethos in the office and a true commitment to our island’s environment, including through sponsoring Beach Buddies, made my decision a no-brainer.

‘At FIM I have been welcomed with socially distanced open arms and despite joining the team from my craft room at home during the March lockdown I have been made incredibly welcome. I am really looking forward to helping FIM develop and grow in an ethically sound and consumer focused way. To this end FIM have already agreed that I can continue to support consumer education in schools and elsewhere as appropriate.’