Mr Townsend takes over from Sir Anthony Holland, whose tenure ended on 30 April. The commissioner is responsible for conducting the final stage of investigations into complaints against the FCA or Bank of England, although his decisions are not binding on the regulators.
Mr Townsend is chairman of the UK and Ireland regulatory board of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. An FCA spokesman confirmed he did not have any financial qualifications.
(Pic saved under Antony Townsend in This week folder)
