The FCA has appointed Home Office director Ruairi O’Connell to be its new director of international as it continues its recruitment drive.

Mr O'Connell is Home Office director, international and has experience in the Home Office and the Foreign Office, including as British Ambassador to Kosovo.

The regulator says he will be responsible for helping to “shape the FCA’s international strategy” as well as overseeing post-Brexit policy. 

His appointment follows the appointment of six new directors in July as the FCA expands its headcount as part of its three year-strategy launched in April.

Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the FCA, said: “I am pleased to welcome Ruairi to the FCA’s new Senior Leadership Team to lead our international work, where he brings with him extensive experience of international affairs, security and strategy."

Mr O’Connell joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2001. He served as British Ambassador to Kosovo between 2015 and 2019. In London, he served as head of unit of the Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative on Climate Change (2008-2010) and in other roles.

He joined the Home Office in 2020 as director, international.