Stonebridge’s Rob Clifford has been appointed to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) smaller business practitioner panel.

The panel is an independent, statutory body established in April 2013. It represents the interests of practitioners of firms of small or medium size within their sector.

All panel members are senior-level representatives who join in a personal capacity rather than representing a particular firm.

Clifford has joined the panel for an initial three-year term.

The FCA board formally approved his appointment before Christmas and he represents the mortgage advice sector.

Stonebridge chief executive Clifford says: “Having served the mortgage industry as both a founding director of the Mortgage Code Compliance Board and as a deputy chairman at AMI, I was really keen to continue to be an advocate for mortgage advice businesses in a formal capacity.”

“I look forward to doing my bit to help the FCA meet its strategic objectives and consistently remind the FCA about the impact of regulation on smaller firms such as mortgage advisers.”