Dubai: Mark Steward joins as new chief executive of DFSA

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the financial services regulator of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has appointed Mark Steward as chief executive, effective May 19, 2025, for a term of three years.

Mark—who will also become a member of the DFSA Board of Directors—succeeds Ian Johnston who will step down from his role following two successful stints as the DFSA’s Chief Executive.

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Mark joins the DFSA with over thirty years of international regulatory experience across financial services within Australia, the UK, and Hong Kong, where he has developed a deep understanding of the global regulatory landscape.

Previously, Mark was executive director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) where he had responsibility for all the FCA's enforcement work and its functions as the UK Listing Authority.

Fadel Al Ali, chairman of the DFSA, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Steward as the new Chief Executive-designate of the Dubai Financial Services Authority. He brings a wealth of international experience in capital markets and financial services, and expertise to manage cross-border regulatory relationships, and ensure adherence to the highest standards while driving innovation and operational efficiency.”