Mark Chidley and Kitty Ussher have started their three-year terms as new members of the independent Financial Services Consumer Panel.

Chidley is a solicitor specialising in banking and finance law, who has worked with Royal Bank of Scotland and law firm DLA Piper. His main focus on the Panel will be on issues facing SMEs as consumers of financial services, having worked since 2009 to improve access to finance for smaller business in the North East of England.

Ussher is a former MP and Government Minister, having served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury in 2007-2008. She is currently the managing director of the research consultancy Tooley Street Research, as well as chief economic adviser to consultancy Portland.

The new members have been appointed following the departures of Debbie Harrison and Fiona Fry.

“I am delighted to welcome Mark and Kitty to the Panel,” said Sue Lewis, chair of the Consumer Panel. “They both bring valuable experience and knowledge of the different ways in which financial services policy can have an impact on consumers, and I look forward to working with them.

“I am also grateful to Debbie Harrison and Fiona Fry for their contribution to the Panel’s work over the past years. We wish them all the best for the future.”