Financial Markets Authority chief Samantha Barrass resigns after suspension

Samantha Barrass has resigned as chief executive of the Financial Markets Authority with immediate effect, citing her intention to return to the UK for family matters. Her departure follows a suspension and an independent employment investigation. Barrass had been suspended while the FMA board commissioned an investigation led by Paul Wicks KC into matters relating to her, separate from a conduct and culture review. She had been seeking to overturn her suspension, but FMA chair James Miller confirmed it has now ended, with farewell events planned. Barrass described her five-year tenure as challenging but said she was proud of lifting the organisation's performance. She declined to comment on the allegations, stating she trusts the MBIE investigation process to resolve them.