ESMA chair Verena Ross on her to-do list for 2025, simplifying the EU financial rulebook, and life at the helm of the watchdog

Today’s guest discusses the European Securities and Markets Authority’s to-do list for 2025, and she explains the regulator’s priorities as it responds to an EU-wide effort to simplify the bloc’s rulebook.

She outlines ESMA’s expectations of market participants subject to its landmark reforms on digital operational resilience and crypto-assets and she details how she plans to make sure both regimes are implemented in as effective a way as possible.  

She also opens up about life at the helm of the EU watchdog, her strategies for navigating “difficult market periods” and plenty more besides.

Verena Ross’s 30-year career includes roles helping to shape various aspects of financial services policy at regulators including the Bank of England and FCA predecessor the Financial Services Authority.  She joined ESMA in 2011 and has been the organisation’s chair since November 2021.

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Short on time? You can read the episode highlights on the FT's Banking, Risk and Regulation