The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has appointed two new members of staff to its executive team.

James Darbyshire and Debbie Stimpson have joined as chief counsel and chief of staff respectively.

Darbyshire joined the FSCS in 2006 as general counsel and has worked on many complex legal matters, including the scheme’s response to the 2008/09 financial crisis.

He also devised the FSCS’s strategy in relation to a number of industry scandals, including pension mis-selling, PPI and the collapse of London Capital & Finance. 

Prior to his role at FSCS, James worked in private practice, specialising in fraud and insolvency litigation, at the law firms Hogan Lovells LLP and more recently Eversheds Sutherland.

Stimpson started at the FSCS in 2014 and has worked in change and transformation roles, developing the schemes strategy for the decade ahead in conjunction with the board.

Before joining the organisation, Stimpson was a consultant for seven years specialising in executive coaching, business transformation and organisational design and development. 

Prior to this she worked for Aviva for 17 years. 

James Darbyshire says: “I’m really excited to be joining the FSCS executive team as chief counsel. 

“We are looking to accelerate FSCS’s strategic ambition to be an equal partner in the regulatory family and a thought leader within the financial services industry.  

“Enabling us to deliver outstanding customer service, and to be a compassionate, diverse and inclusive employer with a high-performing and super-engaged workforce.”

Debbie Stimpson says: “I am thrilled to be joining the executive team at this pivotal time in FSCS’s evolution of its strategy. 

“As we face a complex set of challenges within our environment, it is ever-more important that we put our customers back on track as quickly as possible.  

“Looking to the future we will be collaborating with our regulatory and industry partners to create better outcomes for consumers across financial services.”

FSCS chief executive Caroline Rainbird adds: “I am delighted that James and Debbie have been appointed to [their roles].

“This testifies to their years of hard work, dedication and their invaluable contribution to FSCS.

“I am confident that their knowledge and expertise will continue to be excellent assets for FSCS and the financial services industry as a whole.”

In further news, legal managers Casey McGrath and Cecile Loosely appointed head of legal and head of recoveries respectively, and Tim Furness is head of finance.