News release

SRA strengthens executive team with new Executive Director for Transformation

26 January 2026

We have strengthened our executive team by appointing Deborah Jones as our new Executive Director for Transformation. 

Deborah, currently of the Payment Systems Regulator, has been appointed as part of a broader push to drive operational improvements. She will report directly to Chief Executive Sarah Rapson, providing executive leadership across several of our most significant transformation and improvement programmes.

Sarah Rapson, Chief Executive of the SRA, said: 'One of the priorities that I outlined when I became Chief Executive of the SRA in November was the need to strengthen and improve our operational delivery.

'Deborah’s expertise, both in regulatory transformation and competition law, will be a welcome addition to the SRA as we focus on improving the way we operate to better protect the public and drive high standards in the profession.'

'It is vital that the SRA works closely with fellow regulators to achieve the best outcomes in the public interest. This new Executive Director role will play a key part in achieving this.'

'Over my first few months at the SRA, I have spent time listening to stakeholders from across the legal sector, as well as colleagues. A consistent theme in these conversations has been the importance of the SRA having a strong, focused executive team capable of driving change. I very much look forward to welcoming Deborah to the team.'

Deborah joins on a secondment basis from the FCA. She will lead projects to enhance how we identify and respond to risk, improve quality and consistency across our work, and deliver change. She will also bring together executive accountability for a number of specialist functions, including quality assurance, adjudication, and corporate complaints, to support a more joined-up and efficient regulatory approach.

Deborah joins from the Payment Systems Regulator independent subsidiary of the FCA, where she is currently Deputy Managing Director. She brings extensive experience of leading transformation and regulatory change, having previously held senior roles at the Financial Conduct Authority and, earlier in her career, at the Office of Fair Trading. Deborah qualified as a solicitor in 2000 and began her career practising competition law at Slaughter and May.