The newly-created Financial Services Ombudsman (FSO) is to bring in
David Cresswell as its first communications head.
Cresswell takes up the post in December. He will have an open brief to
shape communications strategy for the new financial services
watchdog.
He reports directly to chief ombudsman Walter Merricks, who said
Cresswell’s first task will be to assess PR needs and suggest a
structure which can deliver effective communications across all its
audiences from government to consumer organisations and the public.
Merricks has already retained Fishburn Hedges (PR Week, 29 October),
which was brought in at the end of October to work on raising awareness
of the new body in the financial community.
The FSO will not be actively promoting itself to the public until it
comes into being sometime around autumn 2000. The FSO will be given the
power to redress consumer complaints under new government legislation
which ties together eight former ombudsmen that previously controlled
sectors such as building societies, banking, insurance and
investments.
Cresswell said: ’The FSO will solve confusion that has arisen as to
which watchdog to go to when problems occur.’
Cresswell will oversee the absorption of staff when the eight ombudsmen
physically merge into the FSO offices next year.
