The chief ombudsman and executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service is stepping down, after almost four years with the ombudsman service.

The chief ombudsman and executive of the [tag|Financial Ombudsman Service|]Financial Ombudsman Service[/tag] is stepping down, after almost four years with the ombudsman service, the regulator said.

In a statement, the Financial Ombudsman board said that Natalie Ceeney is leaving her role, effective immediately.

“In the close to four years since joining, Natalie has taken the service from dealing with an annual workload of 150,000 cases to over 500,000 cases – with the organisation trebling in size under her leadership in response to the challenges of PPI,” said chairman of the Financial Ombudsman Service, Sir Nicholas Montagu.

“So having just received our millionth new PPI complaint, Natalie feels that now is the time for her to move on – as the ombudsman service itself starts out on a new set of challenges, building on the foundations for change laid under Natalie’s leadership,” explained Montagu.

Ceeney joined FOS in March 2010, having previously served in various senior roles, none of which were in the financial services sector.

In her absence, deputy chief ombudsman Tony Boorman will take charge of running the service until further notice.