People & leadership

Samantha Barrass: Chief Executive B.Com (Econ), BCA. Hons (Econ), MSc (Econ)

Samantha has extensive international regulatory experience, including the Chief Executive role at UK’s Business Banking Resolution Service, a dispute resolution scheme for banks and business customers. Previously she was Chief Executive of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, which oversees the prudential and conduct regulation of Gibraltar’s financial services sector. She has held a number of other senior roles at finance regulators and industry associations, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and the London Investment Banking Association. 

Samantha grew up in Christchurch, and studied Economics at the University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington, before beginning her career as an economist at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Paul Gregory: Executive Director, Response & Enforcement  

Paul is responsible for overseeing the strategic approach and appropriate response to the actions and behaviour of market participants that pose risk or harm, including the investigation and enforcement of misconduct cases. 

Previously, Paul has held leadership roles with the FMA as Director for Investment Management, Acting Director, Capital Markets, and Director for External Communications and Investor Capability  

His experience includes Chief Operations Officer at PIE Funds, positions in the investment and communications teams at the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, and communications management roles at Macquarie Group, SKYCITY and Westpac. 

Sharon Thompson: Executive Director, Transformation & Operational Delivery

Sharon is responsible for the strategic direction of the FMA’s operations and capability functions, including technical operations, project management, data engineering, IT security and architecture, customer relationship management, knowledge management, business improvement, people and capability, finance, business support and transformation. This group provides internal support to enable the whole of the FMA. 

Sharon has extensive, senior leadership experience in both the New Zealand public sector and financial services industry. Previously she was Deputy Commissioner for the Customer and Compliance Services (Individuals) group at the Inland Revenue - Te Tari Taake. 

Prior to Inland Revenue, Sharon held senior roles at ASB Bank and Westpac, and holds a Masters in Management from Massey University.