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 and directs that the Proposition be lodged au Greffe for debate by the States on 23 February 2010.
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 first term as a Commissioner on 28 February 2010. It is considered that the practice of having the Director General on the Board of Commissioners has worked well in practice and the Board supports his reappointment as a Commissioner.
2.2. The Jersey Appointments Commission (“JAC”) has confirmed that the proposed re appointment of Mr 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. Mr Harris became Director General of the Commission 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, Mr Harris continued as Director International Finance in the Chief Minister’s Department also on a part-time basis.
2.5. From 1 February 2007, Mr 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. That term of appointment will expire on 28 February 2010.
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. Mr 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 and directs that the Proposition be lodged au Greffe for debate by the States on 23 February 2010.
FINANCE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
21 January 2010