Peter Matheson
Washington,United States
Summary
An internationally minded and recognized financial services leader with almost 30 years of experience in advocacy, commercial and economic diplomacy, policy design and analysis underpinned by a comprehensive network of relationships in the U.S., Europe (including UK) and Asia. Excels in genuine team environment that recognizes the strategic importance of forward thinking and cross-cutting collaboration.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Managing Director
Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (SIFMA)
07.2014 - Current
- SIFMA staff advisor responsible for international relationships/engagement, U.S. cross-border regulatory issues, and regulatory cooperation.
- Led SIFMA's International Policy Committee, comprising senior representatives of forty global brokers and banks.
- Made demonstrable policy influence on trade, data, tax , ESG and other regulatory issues.
- Co-founded the British American Finance Alliance (BAFA) – working level lead in formation of the coalition and in its maintenance and governance ever since.
- Organized over ten conferences and multiple roundtables and salon lunches/dinners.
- Lobbied Congress and Executive on international capital markets issues.
- Engaged frequently with U.S. regulators including SEC, Federal Reserve, CFTC and OCC.
- Authored and coordinated multiple responses to policy and regulatory consultations Cross-border regulatory issues.
Economic and Financial Counsellor
The British Embassy (Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
05.2009 - 06.2014
- Led six-person team responsible for financial services, tax, monetary policy and economy, acting as UK Government’s ‘voice, eyes and ears’ on all financial services and economics issues in the U.S. including:
- Representing UK interests through the spectrum of financial reform, from design and passage of the Dodd Frank Act to implementation. This included advocating for UK interests on:
- Volcker Rule, treatment of sovereign debt – Successfully worked with HMT. Convened and led various meetings of embassies to coordinate messaging and maximize impact.
- Bank Resolution – Successfully worked to advocate for cross-border coordination and recognition of equivalent standards.
- Derivatives – Effectively worked to promote cross-border coherence and consistency to resist CFTC efforts to impose ‘extra-territorial’ rules on UK institutions.
- Managing UK relationships with Treasury, Federal Reserve, Congressional staff working on financial services, industry and regulatory agencies.
- Designing and implementing an extensive financial services strategy to enhance understanding of UK regulatory reforms and mitigate against negative U.S. sentiment.
- This work also included working closely with Department of Trade to promote UK to inward investors. Initiated, designed and collaborated with industry to execute an extensive financial services strategy to counter adverse media coverage and perceptions of the UK as a financial center amidst high profile issues involving UK banks. This involved think tank speeches and symposiums, other media, having senior UK ministers and officials visit and using the UKinUSA network of consulates to disseminate key messages.
- Advocating extensively on cross-border regulatory cooperation.
- Managing and motivating a high performing team in a demanding environment responding to and advising/presenting to multiple stakeholders (Ambassadors, HM Treasury, Cabinet Office).
- Synthesizing economics and finance with trade policy and investment promotion through leading cross-cutting policy group.
- Coordinating and collaborating with other embassies on common interests.
- Various commercial diplomacy visits to UK Consulates.
- Coordinating, managing and leading visits to the U.S. by senior UK policymakers and other interlocutors:
- Managed at least two annual visits by Chancellor of Exchequer to D.C., suggesting and securing meetings and appropriate high profile events.
- Also managed visits by Deputy Prime Minister, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, G20 Sherpa, Governor of the Bank of England. Also helped manage Prime Minister and Chancellor attendance at 2009 G20 Summit and led arrangements of Melvyn King’s 2013 farewell dinner and two embassy dinners in honor of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
- Managed multiple cabinet level and other senior UK visits. Initiated, organized, hosted/executed multiple conferences, round tables and VIP dinners/lunches/meetings.
Head of Macroeconomic Co-ordination and Strategy Unit
HM Treasury
04.2007 - 04.2009
- Created and established new team in midst of sub-prime crisis to co-ordinate across economic and financial services functions, advising (and presenting to) Chancellor, other Treasury Ministers and senior officials. Led HM Treasury engagement with Moodys, Fitch and S&P on annual review of UK sovereign rating.
Head of Monetary Policy
HM Treasury
08.2006 - 04.2007
Head of Economic Reporting
HM Treasury
08.2002 - 08.2006
Head of Trade, Investment and Competitiveness
HM Treasury
07.2000 - 07.2002
Assistant Economist
Scottish Government (then Scottish Executive)
09.1999 - 07.2000
Assistant Economist
HM Treasury
09.1996 - 08.1999
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
University of Strathclyde
07.1996
Skills
- Policy analysis
- Political and commercial diplomacy
- International coordination
- Management
- Event planning
- Writing
- Public speaking
- Intra and cross-team working
- Strategic thinking
- Communications strategy
Timeline
Managing Director
Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association (SIFMA)
07.2014 - Current
Economic and Financial Counsellor
The British Embassy (Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
05.2009 - 06.2014
Head of Macroeconomic Co-ordination and Strategy Unit
HM Treasury
04.2007 - 04.2009
Head of Monetary Policy
HM Treasury
08.2006 - 04.2007
Head of Economic Reporting
HM Treasury
08.2002 - 08.2006
Head of Trade, Investment and Competitiveness
HM Treasury
07.2000 - 07.2002
Assistant Economist
Scottish Government (then Scottish Executive)
09.1999 - 07.2000
Assistant Economist
HM Treasury
09.1996 - 08.1999
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
University of Strathclyde
OTHER
- Full, clean UK and U.S. driving licenses
- Dual Citizen (U.S. and UK)