Helene BENOIST

Hélène Benoist is a senior advocacy professional associated with the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), a prominent lobbying organization representing the interests of Europe’s wholesale financial markets. AFME advocates for integrated, competitive, and resilient European capital markets that support economic growth and benefit society. Benoist’s role primarily involves managing advocacy efforts related to financial regulation, anti-money laundering (AML), data sharing, and financial stability within the EU. She is recognized for her expertise in navigating complex EU regulatory frameworks, particularly those impacting banking, capital markets, and cross-border financial services. Benoist has been actively involved in shaping policy discussions and regulatory responses concerning AML/CFT (counter-terrorism financing), open finance frameworks, and data sharing initiatives, positioning AFME as a key voice in European financial policy debates

Hélène Benoist’s lobbying efforts through AFME are deeply aligned with promoting the interests of the UK’s financial services sector within the EU regulatory environment, despite the UK’s post-Brexit status. AFME represents a broad coalition of pan-European and global banks, including major UK financial institutions, aiming to ensure that EU financial regulations remain conducive to cross-border trade and investment flows involving the UK. Benoist’s advocacy focuses on maintaining a level playing field for UK firms operating in Europe, promoting regulatory harmonization, and opposing overly restrictive measures that could fragment the market or disadvantage UK-based financial services providers.

Her lobbying includes pushing for the full implementation of the EU’s Capital Markets Union and Banking Union frameworks in ways that accommodate UK market participation and cooperation. She advocates for regulatory consistency and transparency, which benefits UK firms by reducing compliance costs and facilitating smoother market access. Benoist’s work on AML/CFT reforms stresses the importance of coordinated supervision and information sharing between EU and UK authorities to prevent financial crime without imposing disproportionate burdens on UK financial institutions.

Moreover, Benoist champions open finance and data sharing policies that enable UK banks and fintech companies to innovate and compete effectively in the European market. She emphasizes interoperability, standardization, and fair compensation frameworks that support UK firms’ access to EU financial data ecosystems. Through these efforts, Benoist seeks to safeguard the UK’s financial sector’s competitiveness and integration with European markets, reflecting AFME’s broader intention to preserve strong UK-EU financial ties and influence EU regulatory outcomes favorably for UK stakeholders

Hélène Benoist has participated in numerous high-level meetings and consultations with EU policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to advance AFME’s agenda and, by extension, UK financial interests. Notably, she has engaged with the European Banking Authority (EBA), European Commission officials, and financial attachés from the UK Mission to the EU to discuss regulatory challenges and reforms.

For example, in November 2023, Benoist attended a meeting with EBA staff alongside representatives from Citi and the American Chamber of Commerce, where discussions focused on the impact of the high-interest-rate environment on European banks, liquidity risk management, and supervisory policies. These dialogues have influenced EBA’s supervisory approaches and stress testing frameworks, which affect UK banks with EU operations.

Benoist also moderated and contributed to panels exploring transatlantic financial market cooperation involving EU, UK, and US officials, highlighting her role in fostering dialogue on regulatory alignment and market resilience. Her advocacy on AML/CFT reforms has been instrumental in shaping AFME’s responses to European Commission proposals, emphasizing the need for harmonized enforcement and effective information sharing between the EU and UK to combat financial crime without disrupting legitimate business.

In the domain of open finance, Benoist has led AFME’s input on EU consultations regarding data sharing regulations, advocating for principles that ensure a level playing field, interoperability, and clear liability provisions. These efforts aim to create a regulatory environment that facilitates UK firms’ participation in the EU’s evolving digital financial ecosystem.

Through sustained engagement with policymakers, Benoist has helped position AFME as a key interlocutor in EU financial regulatory processes, ensuring that UK interests are considered in legislative outcomes and supervisory practices. Her activities demonstrate a strategic approach to lobbying that combines technical expertise, stakeholder collaboration, and policy influence to support the UK’s financial sector within the European context

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +32 2 788 39 76
Organization Website: www.afme.eu
LinkedIn and other social media profiles: Not publicly listed in available data

This profile synthesizes publicly available information on Hélène Benoist’s role, lobbying focus, and activities related to AFME and UK financial market interests in the EU regulatory landscape.