Former HMRC chief Sir Jon Thompson to chair UK payments infrastructure

Sir Jon Thompson has been appointed as Independent Non-Executive Chair of Vocalink, following a comprehensive selection process. He succeeds Tim Murphy, who has served as Interim Executive Chair for the past 18 months and will remain on the Board until the end of July to support a smooth transition.

As the operator of critical national payments infrastructure, Vocalink securely moves more than £30 billion across the UK economy every day, including salaries, pensions and welfare payments.

Sir Jon’s appointment strengthens the independence of the Board at a critical moment, as Vocalink continues to strengthen its resilience, while supporting delivery of the National Payments Vision.

Sir Jon Thompson said: “I’m honoured to join Vocalink at an important time for UK payments. It supports the UK’s economy, providing the resilient, always-on payments infrastructure that millions of consumers, businesses and public services rely on every day.

“I look forward to working with the Board and the leadership team to continue to strengthen the critical services that Vocalink provides. This is a world-class operation that continually draws on its expertise and innovation to help shape the future of UK retail payments infrastructure and protect against an evolving threat landscape.”

Tim Murphy, outgoing Interim Executive Chair of Vocalink, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Sir Jon to Vocalink. He brings the governance, regulatory and leadership experience needed to lead the Board through a strategically significant period for the business.

“This appointment reflects the Board’s commitment to strong independent oversight, operational resilience and reliable service for businesses and consumers across the UK.”

Sir Jon brings extensive experience in governance, financial leadership and delivery in complex, highly regulated environments. His previous roles include leading HM Revenue and Customs, the Financial Reporting Council and the Ministry of Defence, serving as Chair of HS2 Ltd, and currently serving as Independent Non-Executive Chair of Frasers Group.

Earlier in his career, Sir Jon held senior finance leadership roles across government, including Director General of Finance at the Ministry of Defence, Director General of Corporate Services at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, as well as Head of the Government Finance Profession at HM Treasury.