The Financial Conduct Authority's former director of financial advice has died after leaving the regulator earlier this year.
Linda Woodall joined the Financial Services Authority in 2001 and worked across a number of disciplines.
She left in January and took on a non-executive role on Aegon's independent governance committee.
Andrew Bailey, chief executive of the FCA, said: "I was deeply saddened by the news of Linda. She was such a good colleague, someone who was deeply committed to her work and the organisation.
"She did many things for the FSA and FCA most recently her work on ageing and financial conduct which was path breaking. She was hugely enthusiastic about such an important topic and I have met many people from CEOs to consumers who volunteered to me that they had sought Linda out to get the benefit of her thoughts and advice.
"Our condolences are with Linda’s family."
During her time at the regulator, Ms Woodall was acting director for small firms, head of investment intermediaries, director of mortgages and consumer lending and acting executive director for retail supervision and authorisations.
She became director for life insurance and financial advice in 2015.
In her role as advice director she oversaw the FCA's adviser due diligence review of 2016, which found some advice firms were putting platforms ahead of their clients get when considering products.
She was also in charge of the regulator's advice suitability review, which in May 2017 found the vast majority of advisers were doing the right thing but there were issues with disclosure of cost and service.
Ms Woodall also acted as director of supervision for a brief period, replacing Tracey McDermott, who acted up as chief executive before leaving the regulator in mid-2016.
Ms McDermott became the acting chief executive in September 2015 when Martin Wheatley left the regulator.
Ms Woodall joined the regulator in 2009 and was head of investment intermediaries at the FCA’s predecessor, the Financial Services Authority for four years from 2008 to 2012.
damian.fantato@ft.com
