The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced the appointment of a new Chair for the FCA’s independent Smaller Business Practitioner Panel.

Craig Errington, group chief executive of financial mutual Wesleyan, becomes chair of the FCA Smaller Business Practitioner Panel from 1 April 2017. He has been a member of the panel since May 2013.

He succeeds Clinton Askew, director of Citywide Financial Partners.

The FCA Smaller Business Practitioner Panel is an independent statutory body that represents the interests of practitioners of firms of small or medium size within their sector across the range of FCA-regulated activities. Panel members are recruited to represent both their own sector and the industry as a whole, rather than individual firms.

John Griffith-Jones, FCA Chairman  said: “The Smaller Business Practitioner Panel plays a vital role in ensuring that the voice of smaller firms in the industry is heard in the UK’s regulatory system. I am sure that Craig will continue the excellent work of his predecessor and I look forward to working with him in his new role.

“I would like to thank Clinton for his contribution over several years to the work of the panel as both a member and for the last two years as chair.”

Errington said: “The Panel plays an important part in our industry and I’m looking forward to meeting regularly with the chairman and chief executive of the FCA to discuss the interests of the smaller and medium-sized firms.

“These companies may not be on every high street or be well known to general consumers, but still look after billions of pounds of customers’ money and it’s important their interests, and those of their customers and members, are well represented with the FCA.”