FCA appoints board member to review whistleblower case

The Financial Conduct Authority has appointed board member Lea Paterson to review how the UK regulator handled its interactions with whistleblower Simon Andriesz, after his death prompted calls from lawmakers for independent scrutiny. The FCA said the review would identify lessons for the future; its findings have not been announced. Andriesz’s family said he took his own life on September 23 and that there was no suggestion of foul play. Most reports place his death in Thailand, while one account disputed that location. The supplied reporting does not establish a consistent official finding on the cause or location of death. The FCA acknowledged that it wrongly advised Andriesz he was not entitled to whistleblower protections after his identity became known, and apologized, according to reports of the regulator’s response. Andriesz had said he felt let down by the regulator and believed its handling made it harder to pursue a retaliation claim against his former employer, BGC Partners. BGC has denied retaliating against him and said it had policies to protect whistleblowers.