Financial Markets Authority chief executive Samantha Barrass quits

The chief executive of the Financial Markets Authority, Samantha Barrass, is leaving her role with immediate effect.She intended to return to the UK to attend to family matters.Barrass had earlier been suspended from her role.The FMA board had commissioned an independent employment investigation "concerning matters relating to" Barrass, with Paul Wicks KC to lead the investigation.That was separate from a conduct and culture review.FMA chair James Miller said it had now ended.There would be farewell events to "appropriately recognise" Barrass's contribution, he said.Barrass said it had been a challenging five years."I have had great support from my executive leadership team and many others. We have lifted the performance of the organisation; I am really proud of them all," she said."The last few weeks have been very challenging for me, as I have found myself on the receiving end of allegations, and where I have had to take time out for them to be investigated."I won't comment further on them at this stage. That's for the MBIE investigation process to get to the bottom of, and I trust it will do so."