Frances Coulson appointed to Insolvency Service Board
The Insolvency Service welcomes prominent insolvency expert Frances Coulson as a new non-executive board member.
Frances Coulson is a practicing lawyer, with more than 26 years of experience in insolvency law, and a senior partner, board member and Head of Insolvency & Restructuring for the city-based law firm Wedlake Bell.
Together with the other non-executive board members, Frances will work closely with the Insolvency Service’s senior leadership team to provide strategic leadership and governance for the agency.
Frances is a leading figure in the insolvency profession having served in several positions for the insolvency trade body, R3. She was President of R3 between 2011 and 2012 and a member of its council until April 2022.
In addition, Frances is Deputy Chair of the Fraud Advisory Panel - a charity dedicated to anti-fraud work, and a member of the Economic Crime Prevention Group. She is a Special Constable with the National Crime Agency and served as Deputy Chair of the IPA’s Regulatory & Conduct Committee before recently stepping down.
Chair of the Insolvency Service Board, Mark Austen, said:
I am delighted that Frances has chosen to join our Board. She brings a very experienced practitioner view and will have much to contribute to framing and ensuring a positive impact of the ambitious change agenda planned for the Service over the next few years.
Incoming board member, Frances Coulson, said:
I am delighted to have been appointed to the Insolvency Service Board as a non-executive Director. Insolvency is a vital component in even the strongest economy and serves to encourage good corporate behaviour, while ensuring fair competition and fair treatment amongst creditors, the taxpayer and business employees.
Insolvency is in the spotlight following recent world events and the Insolvency Service’s role in ensuring economic confidence and a robust system is vital. I look forward to working with the Insolvency Service’s senior leadership and my fellow non-executive Board Members to constructively help the agency deliver its objectives.
The Insolvency Service’s Chief Executive, Dean Beale, said:
I am very pleased to welcome Frances to the Insolvency Service Board. As the country continues to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic the Insolvency Service has a vital role to ensure the insolvency framework and insolvency practitioners are well placed to support businesses and individuals.
Frances is an experienced insolvency professional who will be a valuable addition to our board, helping to support the Insolvency Service in achieving its objectives.