Newsroom

OFT appoints new Senior Directors

62/07    17 April 2007

The OFT today announced the appointment of three new Senior Directors to lead the OFT's competition and consumer case work with a strategic approach to key market sectors.

Sonya Branch is currently a Partner at Clifford Chance LLP, in the London office of the European Competition and Regulation group. She also oversees the running of the European Competition and Regulation London group's information office. Sonya is a high profile lawyer and has been published and cited in a range of publications, including Global Competition Review, European Lawyer, the Journal of International Banking and Financial Law and The Times. She will bring to the OFT a wealth of strategic experience and knowledge, particularly of the EU financial services sector.

Heather Clayton is currently an ombudsman at the Financial Ombudsman Service where she has lead responsibility for mortgage endowments. Previously, she worked as Director of Investigations at Ofcom (and Oftel), responsible for all investigations under the Competition Act and sector specific legislation. Heather will bring extensive experience in dealing with both complex regulatory investigations and consumer case work to the OFT.

Cavendish Elithorn is currently responsible for Preliminary Investigation, enquiries and Resource Allocation at the OFT. His team is responsible for analysis of complaints submitted to the OFT and proposing what action should be taken. Cavendish joined the OFT in 2004 working on the market studies programme, and he led the recent restructuring of the OFT. Previously, he was a Senior Manager at Capital One Bank (Europe). Cavendish brings a range of experience to his new role, having been at the forefront of a major programme of change at the OFT and creation and delivery of financial projects for a major international bank.

The three senior directors will lead the OFT's market-facing project work, reporting to Sean Williams who was recently appointed as Executive Director.

Announcing the appointments, John Fingleton, OFT Chief Executive said:

'I am enormously pleased to welcome Cavendish, Heather and Sonya to the OFT's senior leadership team. They bring a great range and depth of relevant experience and expertise, both in the area of consumer and competition policy and in management leadership.'

Back to:Press releases