Press Releases

Open Banking Limited announces search for new Chair and Trustee

08 November 2022
press release

Open Banking Limited (OBL) has today announced that Charlotte Crosswell OBE, Chair and Trustee of the Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE), will step down from her role on 31 January 2023 when her contract expires.

The CMA will commence a search for the next Chair and Trustee in the coming weeks. They will be appointed and take up their new contract on 1 February 2023.

Charlotte has overseen and delivered significant governance, culture and management changes at the OBIE during her tenure. These changes have been essential in ensuring that the OBIE is fit for purpose and ready for transition to the next phase for Open Banking. Charlotte is committed to carrying out her Trustee duties, including the completion of the implementation Roadmap, the delivery of a Transition Report to the CMA, and preparing the organisation for transition to a Future Entity.

Key priorities for the next Chair and Trustee will include the protection of ongoing CMA Order requirements and the consideration and potential implementation of the Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee’s decisions on the future long-term regulatory framework for Open Banking in the UK.

The CMA intends to launch the recruitment process for a new Chair and Trustee of OBL as soon as possible. The Chair and Trustee will continue to oversee corporate governance at the OBIE, as well as planning for the transition from OBIE to a Future Entity that will be responsible for developing Open Banking beyond the scope of the Retail Banking Market Investigation Order 2017. The OBIE also intend to appoint an additional Non-Executive Director to the Board of OBL to provide further assurance to the Board as OBIE prepares for transition to a Future Entity. The OBIE intends to launch the recruitment process for the NED shortly.

The OBIE will also make a number of changes to its operational management structure, as we move beyond the implementation phase, to support the organisation through the transition.

Charlotte Crosswell OBE, Trustee and Chair of the OBIE said: “It has been an honour to serve as the Trustee and Chair of the OBIE since October 2021 and I wish my successor well as they take on the role.

“The past few years have been an exceptionally exciting period for Open Banking in the UK. I am proud of what the OBIE team, the wider ecosystem, and other stakeholders have achieved, delivering on the promise of Open Banking, and creating a world leading framework and thriving sector for the benefit of our citizens.

“I would like to thank all my colleagues at the OBIE and in the financial services sector that we have worked closely with over the past year. I will continue to support their work and will keep championing Open Banking and the potential it brings to consumers and businesses alike.”

Henk Van Hulle, Chief Executive Officer of the OBIE said: “Charlotte’s tireless work, dedication and experience have been invaluable as the OBIE prepares for transition post-implementation. She has led the OBIE with passion and care and will leave the organisation well-prepared for the next phase of Open Banking.

“Charlotte will soon complete her mandate, moving us beyond implementation and into the interim state. I will work closely with the CMA as they start the search for her successor and will assist in ensuring there is a smooth handover.

“I will also be making further operational and management changes to prepare the OBIE for transition and will work closely with the CMA and JROC to deliver on our responsibilities as an organisation.

“On behalf of myself, and the whole of the OBIE, I would like to offer Charlotte our sincere thanks and gratitude for what she has delivered and wish her the best for her next challenge.”

Sarah Cardell, Interim Chief Executive of the CMA said: “I want to thank Charlotte for all her work as Open Banking Implementation Trustee and as Chair of Open Banking Limited. As Chair of OBL, she led important efforts to strengthen the management, governance and workplace culture of the organisation. As Trustee, she has overseen significant progress by the CMA9 banks in meeting their obligations under the Retail Banking Market Investigation Order, and this will enable the implementation phase of the Open Banking remedy to be completed shortly for the majority of the CMA9 banks.”

Notes to Editors

For enquiries, please contact: CiceroOpenBankingPR@cicero-group.com, 020 7297 5965

About the Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE)

Open Banking Ltd is the entity set up by the CMA9 as ordered by the CMA in 2016 to deliver open banking. Its trading name is Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE).

The OBIE is funded by the CMA9 (Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, NatWest Group and Santander). The OBIE works with the CMA9, as well as challenger banks, financial technology companies, third party providers and consumer groups.

The OBIE’s role is to:

  • Enforce the obligations on the CMA9 under the CMA Order.
  • Design the specifications for the Application Programme Interfaces (APIs) that banks and building societies use to securely provide open banking.
  • Support regulated third party providers and banks and building societies to use the Open Banking standards.
  • Create security and messaging standards.
  • Manage the Open Banking Directory which allows regulated participants like banks, building societies and third-party providers to enrol in open banking.
  • Produce guidelines for participants in the open banking ecosystem.
  • Set out the process for managing disputes and complaints.

The Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee is considering the future of Open Banking in the UK as we move beyond the CMA Order. There will be a staged transition in the governance of Open Banking, summarised as follows:

  • Current state: The OBIE, overseen by the CMA, continues to implement the specific areas covered in the Open Banking remedy implementation timetable (the Roadmap) in line with the CMA’s Retail Banking Market Investigation Order 2017 (the CMA Order). This will end when the CMA agrees the Roadmap is completed and is satisfied that there are adequate arrangements in place for the transition of OBIE’s functions to a suitable successor body.
  • Interim state: The OBIE’S successor (the future entity) will take on responsibility for further developing Open Banking. The implementation phase of the CMA Order will end and the banks which are subject to the CMA Order will have remaining ongoing responsibilities. This interim period will end when the long-term regulatory framework is in place.
  • Future state: A long-term regulatory framework will be put in place for Open Banking and the future entity will continue to develop Open Banking within this framework.