Appointment of Commissioner of the Jersey Financial
Services Commission
1. Issue and Recommendation
1.1. Article 3 of the Financial Services Commission (Jersey) Law 1998 provides that the States shall appoint Commissioners of the Jersey Financial Services Commission (“JFSC”) from persons nominated by the Minister for Economic Development (the “Minister”).
1.2. It is recommended that the Minister approves the nomination of John Harris for reappointment as a Commissioner of the JFSC for a further period of five years and directs that the Proposition be lodged au Greffe for debate by the States at the earliest opportunity.
1.3. There are no financial or manpower implications for the States.
2. Background
2.1. John Harris is the Director General of the JFSC and will complete his second term as a Commissioner on 28 February 2013. It is considered that the practice of having the Director General on the Board of Commissioners has worked well over the years and the Board supports his reappointment as a Commissioner.
2.2. The Jersey Appointments Commission (“JAC”) has confirmed that the proposed reappointment of John Harris meets the terms and criteria for reappointments as set out in its Code of Practice for Appointments to Autonomous & Quasi-autonomous Public Bodies & Tribunals.
John Richard Harris
2.3. John Harris became Director General of the JFSC on a part-time basis on 6 November 2006, succeeding Mr David Carse whose contract as Director General, and appointment as a Commissioner, expired on 3 November 2006.
2.4. From 6 November 2006 until the end of his period of notice on 31 January 2007, John Harris continued as Director International Finance in the Chief Minister’s Department also on a part-time basis.
2.5. From 1 February 2007, John Harris’s appointment as Director General became full-time and, on 28 February 2007, he was appointed by the States as a Commissioner for a term of three years. He was subsequently re-appointed by the States as a Commissioner for a second term commencing on 1 March 2010. This term will expire on 28 February 2013.
Previous Roles
2.6. From April 2002 (initially on secondment) until 31 January 2007: Director International Finance in the Chief Minister’s Department, States of Jersey.
2.7. From 1980 to 2003: National Westminster Bank Group culminating in his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of NatWest Offshore.
2.8. John Harris is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
3. Recommendation
3.1. It is recommended that the Minister approves the nomination of John Harris for reappointment as a Commissioner of the JFSC for a further period of five years and directs that the Proposition be lodged au Greffe for debate by the States at the earliest opportunity.
4. Finance and Manpower implications
4.1. There are no financial or manpower implications for the States.
FINANCE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
14 January 2013