Former Virgin Money chief named preferred candidate to chair the FRC

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle named Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia on July 13 as his preferred candidate to chair the Financial Reporting Council. She would succeed Sir Jan du Plessis, who steps down on 30 September 2026. Gadhia is a chartered accountant. She was chief executive of Virgin Money from 2007 to 2018, a period covering the acquisition of Northern Rock and the listing of the combined business. She chairs Moneyfarm and OVO, is lead non-executive director at HMRC, and is senior independent director at the Tate. She also served five years as the government's Women in Finance Champion. The appointment followed an open competition. The Business and Trade Committee will hold a pre-appointment scrutiny hearing before the Secretary of State confirms the post. Reported by Maria Ward-Brennan at City AM.