The financial services sector, and those leading it, are assessing both opportunities and risks associated with the shift in presidency in the U.S. There are two perspectives, each with merit, and both must be carefully considered through the lens of Non-Financial risk.

Determining responsibilities between the business, risk management and compliance. Time for Resolution:10 Years of Debate Between the 1st and 2nd Lines of Defences. 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of Armstrong Wolfe’s establishment of the Chief Control Officer forum. A cornerstone initiative of the International COO Community (iCOOC), this forum has served as the central hub for debate, collaboration, and thought leadership on 1st line business risk and controls across Corporate and Investment Banking.

Vendor relationships are like a marriage, in which both parties should have a vested interest and a desire to make the relationship work. We will explore how lessons from a good marriage can be used to maintain an effective vendor relationship as the digital landscape moves into agentive AI territory, with focus on the financial services industry.

Leadership is about more than setting direction - it’s about creating an environment where people feel ownership of their work and are empowered to make an impact and culture is the foundation of business success. I believe that the best ideas emerge when people feel a genuine stake in what they are building.

The traditional pathway to becoming a CEO in financial markets has predominantly favoured individuals from front-office, revenue-generating roles such as sales, trading, or investment banking. However, as industry dynamics evolve, regulatory scrutiny intensifies, and market operations become more complex, the case for promoting a COO to CEO has grown stronger. 

The role of the first line of defence in the financial markets sector is undergoing a critical transformation. Historically viewed as the operational backbone for maintaining controls and adherence to processes, the first line is increasingly being called upon to broaden its mandate. Financial Markets COOs, in particular, are challenging the status quo where control functions focus narrowly on managing controls rather than actively engaging with risk management and resilience strategies.

Do I like what President Trump is saying and doing on DEI? Do I applaud those major companies which have announced that they are abandoning or reducing their DEI initiatives? Do I support those activists and critics who are loudly trying to undermine the business case for DEI? Do I think that DEI has no place in a UK government strategy focused on economic growth? Do I think DEI is bad for business? Err, no, six times over no (obvs.).

In recent years, the conversation surrounding diversity and inclusion has expanded to encompass not just traditional markers such as race, gender, and age but also neurodiversity. Neurodiverse individuals, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other neurological differences, bring unique skills and perspectives that can significantly benefit industries like financial services.