As the first chairman of the Office of the Financial Services Ombudsman, Thomas will to handle complaints about financial services in Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
He retired from a full-time role with the UK ombudsman service in 2012, though he continues to advise them part-time, and he is also a board member of the UK Legal Ombudsman and advises internationally on financial consumer protection and dispute resolution issues.
The Financial Services Ombudsman for the Channel Islands is in the process of being established by law and will have powers to investigate and determine customer complaints, the joint statement said.
It will be based in Jersey with shared staff, resources and premises, and funded by the financial services industries in both jurisdictions, with the aim of up and running following its registration by the end of 2014.
The statement also said that recruitment of the remaining board members will now go ahead and, once fully constituted, the board will appoint the Ombudsman and oversee the establishment of the office for all of the Channel Islands.
Guernsey’s minister of commerce & employment, Kevin Stewart said: “We were delighted with the quality of candidates interested in this first role of chairman. We are confident David Thomas will provide strong direction in the establishment of an effective ombudsman service for the Channel Islands.”
Jersey’s minister for economic development, senator Alan Maclean said: “David Thomas brings a wealth of experience from financial and other ombudsman schemes in the UK and worldwide which will be of great benefit to the new ombudsman service. His appointment brings the opening of the scheme another step closer.”
