Andrew Bailey

Andrew Bailey
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Nationality	British
Occupation	Central banker
Title	Governor of the Bank of England
Known for	Governor of the Bank of England

Andrew Bailey (born 1959) is a British central banker who has served as the Governor of the Bank of England since March 2020. As the head of the United Kingdom's central bank, Bailey occupies one of the most consequential positions in global finance, overseeing monetary policy, financial stability, and the regulation of the British banking system. His tenure has coincided with a period of significant economic turbulence, including the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, a sharp rise in inflation across advanced economies, and ongoing uncertainties in global trade and geopolitics. Prior to his appointment as Governor, Bailey spent more than three decades at the Bank of England in various capacities before serving as the Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the United Kingdom's financial regulatory body. As of early 2026, Bailey continues to represent the Bank of England on the international stage, including delivering speeches at major central banking and economic forums around the world.

Career

Early career at the Bank of England

Andrew Bailey's career in central banking began at the Bank of England, where he worked for more than thirty years across a range of departments and functions. During his long tenure at the institution, Bailey developed expertise in banking supervision, financial stability, and monetary policy — areas that would later define his public profile. He rose through the ranks of the Bank, eventually holding senior positions that placed him at the centre of the United Kingdom's response to major financial events.

Bailey was closely involved in the Bank of England's efforts during the global financial crisis of 2007–2008, a period that tested the resilience of the UK banking system and led to significant reforms in financial regulation. His work during this period contributed to his reputation as a technically skilled and steady operator within the central banking establishment.

Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority

In 2016, Bailey was appointed Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the body responsible for regulating financial services firms and financial markets in the United Kingdom. The FCA's remit covers consumer protection, market integrity, and the promotion of competition in the interests of consumers. Bailey's tenure at the FCA saw him oversee the organisation during a period of rapid change in the financial services industry, including the growth of fintech, debates over the regulation of cryptocurrencies, and the ongoing implementation of post-financial-crisis regulatory reforms.

His time at the FCA was not without controversy. Bailey faced criticism from some quarters over the regulator's handling of certain high-profile cases, including questions about the pace and rigour of enforcement actions. Nevertheless, his extensive experience across both the Bank of England and the FCA made him a leading candidate when the position of Governor became available.

Governor of the Bank of England

Andrew Bailey assumed the role of Governor of the Bank of England on 16 March 2020, succeeding Mark Carney. His appointment came at a moment of extraordinary global crisis: the COVID-19 pandemic was rapidly escalating, and financial markets around the world were experiencing severe disruption. Within days of taking office, Bailey and the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee enacted emergency interest rate cuts and launched large-scale asset purchase programmes (quantitative easing) to support the UK economy and stabilise financial markets.

The early years of Bailey's governorship were dominated by the economic effects of the pandemic, including sharp contractions in GDP, unprecedented government borrowing, and the challenge of supporting the economy without undermining long-term price stability. As the global economy recovered, a new challenge emerged: a surge in inflation driven by supply chain disruptions, rising energy prices — exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 — and strong consumer demand. The Bank of England, under Bailey's leadership, responded by raising interest rates in a series of increments beginning in late 2021, a policy stance that attracted both support and criticism from economists, politicians, and the public.

Bailey has defended the Bank's approach to inflation, arguing that monetary policy must balance the need to bring inflation back to the Bank's 2% target with the risks of tightening too aggressively and causing unnecessary economic pain. His public communications have frequently addressed the complex trade-offs involved in setting interest rates during a period of overlapping economic shocks.

International engagement

As Governor, Bailey has been an active participant in international central banking forums. He has represented the Bank of England at meetings of the G7 and G20 central bank governors, at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), and at other multilateral organisations focused on financial stability and economic cooperation.

In February 2026, Bailey delivered a speech entitled "The world today" at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, an event focused on the challenges and opportunities facing developing economies in a rapidly changing global landscape. The speech, published by the BIS, addressed issues relevant to global monetary policy, trade, and economic development, reflecting Bailey's continued engagement with international economic debates during his tenure as Governor.

Bailey's participation in such events underscores the role of the Bank of England as a major institution in the international financial architecture and the Governor's responsibility to articulate the Bank's views on both domestic and global economic conditions.

Disambiguation: Other notable individuals named Andrew Bailey

The name Andrew Bailey is shared by several other notable public figures. It is important to distinguish the Governor of the Bank of England from these individuals, particularly as some have received significant media attention in overlapping time periods.

Andrew Bailey (Missouri Attorney General and FBI official)

Andrew Bailey (distinct from the Bank of England Governor) is an American attorney and public official who served as the Attorney General of Missouri beginning in November 2022. Bailey's tenure as Attorney General attracted national attention for a number of high-profile legal actions and political controversies.

In August 2025, Bailey announced his resignation as Missouri Attorney General in order to accept a position in the federal government under the administration of President Donald Trump. The resignation came less than a year into his elected term as Attorney General.

Bailey subsequently took on the role of Co-Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In October 2025, in his capacity as Co-Deputy Director, Bailey delivered remarks at a press conference announcing public corruption arrests in Oxford, Mississippi, indicating his involvement in significant federal law enforcement operations.

Bailey's transition from Missouri Attorney General to the FBI attracted scrutiny from media organisations. A ProPublica investigation published in August 2025 examined Bailey's record as Missouri Attorney General, noting that his targeting of Democratic officials was described as "legally questionable" by legal experts quoted in the report. The article stated that these actions had "helped to further his career."

In February 2026, the Missouri Independent published a report detailing Bailey's involvement in an FBI raid at the election headquarters of Fulton County, Georgia. The article characterised the raid as "controversial" and argued that Bailey's record in Missouri "should be a warning."

The career trajectory of the Missouri-born Andrew Bailey — from state attorney general to a senior position at the FBI — has been the subject of significant media and public debate, with coverage in outlets including ProPublica, the Missouri Independent, and the FBI's own public communications.

Andrew Bailey (baseball)

Andrew Bailey (born 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball. Following his playing career, Bailey moved into coaching. As of February 2026, he was serving in a coaching capacity with a Major League Baseball organisation, with media reports in early 2026 quoting him commenting on player development and prospect evaluations for the Boston Red Sox.

Recognition

Andrew Bailey's appointment as Governor of the Bank of England is itself one of the most prominent forms of recognition in British public life, placing him at the helm of one of the world's oldest and most influential central banks. The role carries with it membership of key international economic bodies and a significant platform for shaping public discourse on monetary and financial policy.

Bailey's speeches and public engagements are regularly published and disseminated by the Bank for International Settlements, reflecting his standing in the international central banking community. His participation in major conferences, such as the 2026 AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, further illustrates his position as a leading voice in global economic policy discussions.

Throughout his career, Bailey has been recognised for his deep institutional knowledge of the Bank of England and the UK financial regulatory system, having spent more than three decades in senior roles across both the Bank and the FCA.

Legacy

Andrew Bailey's legacy is still being shaped by events during his ongoing tenure as Governor of the Bank of England. His governorship has been defined by the extraordinary economic challenges of the 2020s, including the pandemic, a historic inflationary episode, and growing geopolitical uncertainty. The decisions made by Bailey and the Bank's policy committees during this period — on interest rates, quantitative easing and its unwinding, and financial regulation — will be assessed by economists and historians for years to come.

Bailey's career trajectory — from a long-serving Bank of England official to head of the FCA and then Governor — exemplifies a particular model of central bank leadership, one rooted in deep institutional experience rather than external appointment from academia or the private sector. His approach to governance and public communication has reflected this background, with an emphasis on technical competence, institutional continuity, and careful engagement with both domestic and international audiences.

The broader context of Bailey's tenure includes debates over the independence of central banks, the appropriate response to supply-side inflationary shocks, and the evolving role of central banks in addressing issues such as climate-related financial risk and digital currencies. Bailey's speeches and policy positions contribute to these debates, and his record will be evaluated in light of the outcomes achieved during one of the most turbulent periods in modern economic history.

As of February 2026, Bailey remains in office as Governor of the Bank of England and continues to play an active role in both domestic monetary policy and international economic diplomacy.