Pritesh Solanki

I’m a Principal Consultant in FD’s Regulatory Solutions practice, I have specialised in Trade Surveillance, Regulatory Change and Data Transformation during my time here. Prior to that, I’ve spent over a decade working across multiple Tier 1 Investment Banks, which has given me strong front-to-back Capital Markets experience. I have really enjoyed solving complex problems and bringing clarity to ‘messy’ regulatory challenges. Outside of work, I’m passionate about continuous learning and experiencing new things, whether its globetrotting and exploring faraway places or learning to play competitive chess online at an ungodly hour, I’m naturally curious, big on continuous learning, and always up for tackling the next challenge !

FD stood out to me because of its renowned reputation in capital markets, combined with a genuine focus on developing consultants and its strong culture of work ethic across a wide landscape of programmes. I wanted to move beyond working within a single financial institution and make a broader impact across the industry. I joined FD in 2021 and was quickly placed on a major trade surveillance remediation programme. From the outset, I was trusted with significant responsibility, which allowed me to demonstrate leadership early and firmly establish myself as an ‘expert’ within that space.

Before joining FD, I began my career in banking operations at three major global banks, gradually progressing into senior roles leading bank-wide programmes. Since joining FD, I’ve been at the centre of large-scale, Department of Justice (DOJ) focused surveillance initiatives, while also supporting practice development, sales efforts and regulatory thought leadership. Being promoted to Principal Consultant last year was a proud milestone, reflecting both the impact delivered for clients and FD’s strong commitment to developing its people.

I’ve been primarily London-based, but the programmes I’ve worked on have been truly global. I’ve collaborated with teams across the US, Europe and Asia, particularly within Front Office, Compliance and Technology. Working across regions has strengthened my adaptability and communication style, especially when navigating complex regulatory initiatives with diverse stakeholders. London itself has been a fantastic base, it’s an incredible place to build relationships, expand your network, and discover new opportunities that often appear when you least expect them.

Leading the front-office ‘systems’ inventory and trade surveillance gap analysis at a major banks markets stands out. I was responsible for assessing over a thousand front office systems to ensure surveillance completeness under intense regulatory scrutiny. It was technically complex and required continuous senior stakeholder engagement across the bank, globally. Delivering the initiative end-to-end and being requested back (by name) by the client afterwards was incredibly rewarding and reinforced the impact FD consultants can have on critical programmes.

It’s not just about doing ‘great work’, it’s about building strong, lasting relationships and being willing to step forward when it really matters. As I learnt over time, many of the best opportunities come from volunteering for the tougher challenges. I’ve also learned that visibility, confidence and networking matter just as much as technical ability. With AI and digital transformation reshaping our industry at pace, staying curious and continuously learning is essential. Embrace change rather than resist it. Most importantly, back yourself, as real growth usually happens just outside your comfort zone.