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, as amended, provides that the States shall appoint Commissioners of the Jersey Financial Services Commission (“JFSC”) from persons nominated by the Minister.
1.2. It is recommended that the Minister approves the nomination of Advocate Deborah Jane Prosser (née Nance) for reappointment as a Commissioner of the JFSC with effect from 30 November 2013 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.
2. Background
2.1. Advocate Prosser was first appointed as a Commissioner of the JFSC on 30 November 2008 and will complete her first term of five years on 29 November 2013.
2.2 At the Board of Commissioners meeting held in June 2013, Advocate Prosser’s performance as a Commissioner during her first term of office was considered. It was noted that Commissioner Prosser had contributed fully to the work of the Board of Commissioners and, through her chairmanship of the Remuneration Committee to work in that area. The Board of Commissioners agreed unanimously that Commissioner Prosser should be recommended to the States, through the Minister, for reappointment.
2.3. The Jersey Appointments Commission (“JAC”) has noted that the proposed reappointment of Advocate Prosser meets the terms and criteria for reappointments as set out in its Code of Practice for Appointments to Autonomous & Quasi-autonomous Public Bodies & Tribunals.
Career
2.4 From 1984 to 2005 Advocate Prosser held the following roles at Bailhache Labesse (now Appleby):
- Head of Personal Law Department;
- Managing Partner of Bailhache Labesse; and
- Managing Director of Bailhache Labesse Trustees Limited.
2.5 From 2005 to 2012 Advocate Prosser worked as a self-employed consultant assisting law firms and trust companies with strategic planning and management.
2.6 From 2008 to 2012 Advocate Prosser acted as in house legal counsel to two leading trust companies as well as establishing a sole practitioner legal practice specialising in wills and succession planning for high net worth clients.
Directorships currently held
2.7 From 1998 to date: Daisy Hill Real Estates Limited (non-executive director of a private property owning company).
2.8 From 2006 to 2013: Basel International Limited (non-executive director of a company that owns a Jersey regulated trust company (Basel Trust Corporation (Channel Islands) Limited) and a trust company in Geneva (BasTrust Limited)).
2.9 From 2007 to date: The Law Debenture Trust (Channel Islands) Limited (non-executive director of a Jersey regulated trust company).
Other Memberships held
2.10 Advocate Prosser is a Jersey qualified Solicitor and Advocate and is a member of the Jersey Law Society.
2.11 Advocate Prosser is has also been a member of the Jersey Police Complaints Authority since January 2008 and has been Chairman since January 2013.
3. Recommendation
3.1. It is recommended that the Minister approves the nomination of Advocate Deborah Jane Prosser (née Nance) for reappointment as a Commissioner of the JFSC with effect from 30 November 2013 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. Financial and Manpower Implications
4.1 There are no financial or manpower implications arising for the States of Jersey as a result of this decision.
FINANCE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
6 September 2013