SUP 10A.6 FCA governing functions

1. (1)

   Every firm will have one or more persons responsible for directing its affairs. These persons will be performing the FCA governing functions and will be required to be FCA-approved persons unless the application provisions in SUP 10A.1, or the particular description of an FCA controlled function, provide otherwise. For example, each director of a company incorporated under the Companies Acts will perform an FCA governing function.5

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2. (2)

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3. (3)

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A sole trader does not fall within the description of the governing functions.

1. (1)

   The effect of SUP 10A.6.3 R is that a person who is approved to perform an FCA governing function will not have to be specifically FCA-approved to perform the systems and controls function or the significant management function or the part of the customer function specified in SUP 10A.10.7R (7). However, a person who is approved to perform an FCA governing function will have to be additionally FCA-approved before he can perform any of the FCA required functions or the customer function (except the part specified in SUP 10A.10.7R (7)).

2. (2)

   SUP 10A.6.3 R does not apply to the non-executive director function. It does not apply to the director function if the only part of that function that the FCA-approved person is performing is the function described in SUP 10A.6.8 R.

See MIPRU 2.2 for how the FCA's approved persons regime is adjusted for a firm carrying on insurance distribution activity4.2

Examples of where SUP 10A.6.8 R might apply include (but are not limited to):

1. (1)

   a chairman of an audit committee of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm where that audit committee is working for that UK firm (that is, functioning as the audit committee for the group); or

2. (2)

   a director (other than a non-executive director) of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm exercising significant influence by way of his involvement in taking decisions for that UK firm; or

3. (3)

   an individual (such as a senior manager) of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm who is responsible for and/or has significant influence in setting the objectives for and the remuneration of executive directors of that UK firm; or

4. (4)

   an individual who is a director (other than a non-executive director) or a senior manager of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm who is accustomed to influencing the operations of that UK firm, and acts in a manner in which it can reasonably be expected that an executive director or senior manager of that UK firm would act; or

5. (5)

   an individual of an overseas firm which maintains an establishment in the United Kingdom from which regulated activities are carried on, where that individual has responsibilities for those regulated activities which are likely to enable him to exercise significant influence over the UK branch.

A director can be a body corporate and may accordingly require approval as an FCA-approved person in the same way as a natural person may require approval.

Examples of where SUP 10A.6.13 R might apply include (but are not limited to):

1. (1)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of a parent undertaking or holding company who takes an active role in the running of the business of a UK firm, for example, as a member of a board or committee (on audit or remuneration) of that firm; or

2. (2)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of a parent undertaking or holding company having significant influence in setting and monitoring the business strategy of the UK firm; or

3. (3)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm involved in carrying out responsibilities such as scrutinising the approach of executive management, performance, or standards of conduct of the UK firm; or

4. (4)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of a parent undertaking or holding company of a UK firm who is accustomed to influence the operations of the UK firm, and acts in a way in which it can reasonably be expected that a non-executive director of the UK firm would act; or

5. (5)

   an individual who is a non-executive director of an overseas firm which maintains a branch in the United Kingdom from which regulated activities are carried on where that individual has responsibilities for those regulated activities which are likely to enable him to exercise significant influence over the UK branch.

1. (1)

   The explanation in SUP 10C.5B.2G of the basis on which the group entity senior manager function is included as a controlled function for an SMCR firm is also relevant to7 the basis on which the director function and the non-executive director function are applied to persons who have a position with the firm's parent undertaking or holding company under SUP 10A.6.8 R or SUP 10A.6.13 R.

2. (2)

   The guidance in SUP 10C.5B.3G to SUP 10C.5B.5G about when the group entity senior manager function applies to an SMCR firm is also relevant to when those who have a position with a firm’s parent undertaking or holding company may be performing a controlled function under7 SUP 10A.6.8 R or SUP 10A.6.13 R7.

This function is having the responsibility, alone or jointly with one or more others, under the immediate authority of the governing body:

1. (1)

   for the conduct of the whole of the business (or relevant activities); or

2. (2)

   in the case of a branch in the United Kingdom of an overseas firm, for the conduct of all of the activities subject to the UK regulatory system.

For a branch in the United Kingdom of an overseas firm, the FCA would not normally expect the overseas chief executive of the firm as a whole to be FCA-approved for this function where there is a senior manager under him with specific responsibility for those activities of the branch which are subject to the UK regulatory system. In some circumstances, the person within the firm responsible for UK operations may, if the function is likely to enable him to exercise significant influence over the branch, also perform the chief executive function (see SUP 10A.7.4 G).

A person performing the chief executive function may be a member of the governing body but need not be. If the chairman of the governing body is also the chief executive, he will be discharging this function. If the responsibility is divided between more than one person but not shared, there is no person exercising the chief executive function. But if that responsibility is discharged jointly by more than one person, each of those persons will be performing the chief executive function.

Note that a body corporate may be a chief executive. If so, it will need to be approved 5to perform the chief executive function.