The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has named Penny James as chair of its practitioner panel, succeeding Quilter chief executive Paul Feeney.

James is chief excecutive of Direct Line Group and has been a member of the FCA’s practitioner panel since September 2020.

FCA chair Charles Randell says that she already understands the role the Panel plays in providing “robust and constructive challenge” to approach the future of regulation.

James says: “The Panel is an important forum for senior industry practitioners, spanning a range of sectors, to engage and use its expertise as a critical friend to support the FCA’s work.”