CFIT appoints new Chair and NEDs to Board

The Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT) has announced three senior appointments to its Board.

Joining him on the Board as independent Non-Executive Directors are Nausicaa Delfas, Chief Executive of The Pensions Regulator, and Vivienne Artz, Chief Executive of the FTSE Women Leaders Review.

Pond brings extensive experience across financial services, academia and politics. A former MP and Work and Pensions Minister, he has held senior positions including Director of Financial Capability at the Financial Services Authority and Chair of both the Financial Inclusion Commission and the Lending Standards Board. He currently serves as Chair of the FCA Consumer Panel, TrustMark, Gamstop, and the Advisory Board of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute.

Delfas, a qualified solicitor, has led The Pensions Regulator since April 2023 and previously held multiple senior roles at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), including Executive Director of International and interim Chief Executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Artz is widely recognised for her leadership in data, privacy, and gender diversity. Alongside her current role at the FTSE Women Leaders Review, she holds several board and advisory positions. Her previous roles include Chief Privacy Officer at the London Stock Exchange Group and CEO of Women in Banking and Finance. She was awarded an OBE in 2021 for services to financial services and gender diversity.

These appointments follow the announcement of Anna Wallace as CFIT’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 September 2025. She succeeds interim leadership provided by Madush Gupta, to whom CFIT extended its thanks for his guidance as Acting Chair.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris Pond said: “The impact of CFIT’s work to date has been widely felt across industry and government, and recognised in the last Budget, the recent Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy and the National Payments Vision.

“I’m delighted to be joining the organisation, alongside two exceptional and experienced non-executives in Nausicaa and Vivienne, as CFIT embarks on its next chapter in tackling some of the most complex systemic challenges facing financial services and the wider economy. Anna and the team can deliver so much in partnership with government, industry and regulators, and we’re excited to play our part in supporting that mission.”

“Their strategic oversight and counsel will be invaluable as we drive forward our work to co-create new tech solutions and policy recommendations in Smart Data, Digital ID, SME finance and a range of other new areas.”