Charlotte Crosswell

Ms Crosswell has overseen and delivered significant governance, culture and management changes at the OBIE during her tenure. These changes have been essential in ensuring that the OBIE is fit for purpose and ready for transition to the next phase for Open Banking.

Ms Crosswell is committed to carrying out her trustee duties, including the completion of the implementation roadmap, the delivery of a transition report to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and preparing the organisation for transition to a future entity.

Key priorities for the next chair and trustee will include the protection of ongoing CMA Order requirements and the consideration and potential implementation of the Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee’s decisions on the future long-term regulatory framework for Open Banking in the UK.

Ms Crosswell said: “It has been an honour to serve as the trustee and chair of the OBIE since October 2021 and I wish my successor well as they take on the role.

“The past few years have been an exceptionally exciting period for Open Banking in the UK. I am proud of what the OBIE team, the wider ecosystem, and other stakeholders have achieved, delivering on the promise of Open Banking, and creating a world leading framework and thriving sector for the benefit of our citizens.

“I would like to thank all my colleagues at the OBIE and in the financial services sector that we have worked closely with over the past year. I will continue to support their work and will keep championing Open Banking and the potential it brings to consumers and businesses alike.”

Henk Van Hulle, CEO of the OBIE, said: “Charlotte’s tireless work, dedication and experience have been invaluable as the OBIE prepares for transition post-implementation. She has led the OBIE with passion and care and will leave the organisation well-prepared for the next phase of Open Banking.

“Charlotte will soon complete her mandate, moving us beyond implementation and into the interim state. I will work closely with the CMA as they start the search for her successor and will assist in ensuring there is a smooth handover.

“I will also be making further operational and management changes to prepare the OBIE for transition and will work closely with the CMA and JROC to deliver on our responsibilities as an organisation.

“On behalf of myself, and the whole of the OBIE, I would like to offer Charlotte our sincere thanks and gratitude for what she has delivered and wish her the best for her next challenge.”

Sarah Cardell, interim chief executive of the CMA, said: “I want to thank Charlotte for all her work as Open Banking Implementation trustee and as chair of Open Banking Limited.

“As chair of OBL, she led important efforts to strengthen the management, governance and workplace culture of the organisation.

“As trustee, she has overseen significant progress by the CMA9 banks in meeting their obligations under the Retail Banking Market Investigation Order, and this will enable the implementation phase of the Open Banking remedy to be completed shortly for the majority of the CMA9 banks.”

The CMA intend to launch the recruitment process for a new chair and trustee of OBL as soon as possible. The OBIE also intend to appoint an additional non-executive director to the board of OBL to provide further assurance to the board as OBIE prepares for transition to a future entity.

The OBIE will also make a number of changes to its operational management structure, as we move beyond the implementation phase, to support the organisation through the transition.