Edinburgh-based investment giant Abrdn said on Friday it will appoint former Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) boss Catherine Bradley as a non-executive director and a member of its audit committee on January 4, 2022.

Bradley, who is French, is also senior independent director at Kingfisher plc, chair of the finance committee at easyJet plc, and non-executive director at Johnson Electric.

Her fee as a non-executive director of Abrdn plc will be £73,500 per annum and her fee as a member of the audit committee will be £10,000 per annum.

Bradley holds 10,000 shares in Abrdn.

“Catherine brings more than 30 years of executive experience advising global financial institutions and industrial companies on their most complex transactions and strategic opportunities,” said Abrdn.

“In her subsequent non-executive career, over the past seven years Catherine has served on the boards of leading industrial and consumer facing companies in the UK, France and Hong Kong.

“She was appointed by HM Treasury to the board of the FCA in 2014 and played an important role in the establishment of the FICC Markets Standards Board in 2015.

“Catherine stepped down from both these boards in 2020 but retains a keen interest in regulatory developments in financial services.”

At the FCA, Bradley was chair of the audit committee, a member of the nomination and risk committees and a “whistleblowing champion for FCA staff.”

Abrdn chairman Douglas Flint said: “I am delighted to welcome Catherine to our board. 

“Her knowledge and experience gained from working across Europe and Asia, in serving on the boards of leading consumer facing companies and her experience gained working with regulators and standard setters will bring considerable and incremental value to our discussions”.

Abrdn’s board will now comprise two executive directors, nine non-executive directors and the chairman. 

The board will be made up of six women and six men. 

Abrdn manages and administers £532 billion of assets around the world.