The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced today that Chairman and CEO Richard Ketchum is set to retire in the second half of 2016.
In its announcement, FINRA praised Mr. Ketchum as one of the foremost industry regulators for more than three decades. He joined FINRA from the NYSE where he was CEO of NYSE Regulation. He also spent 12 years at NASD and The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., where he served as president of both organizations. Before that, he was the director of the Market Regulation division of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
FINRA’s Board of Governors will carry out a search for a successor of Mr. Ketchum, with internal and external candidates to be considered for the top role.
“I’m proud of FINRA’s achievements over the past six years,” said Mr. Ketchum.
Richard Ketchum
“We have been at the forefront of investor protection in our aggressive efforts to help enforce the rules that are so crucial to fair financial markets. Our accomplishments are founded on a commitment to excellence in our core competencies: examinations, enforcement, rulemaking, market transparency and market surveillance. Investor protection is our principal reason for being, and I have been honored to work with an incredibly dedicated and talented group of professionals who take this vital mission seriously. FINRA is well-placed to continue to play an important role in educating and protecting investors in the years ahead.”
“FINRA has thrived under Rick’s leadership, and we look forward to his continued guidance over the next many months,” said Lead Governor Jack Brennan, former CEO of Vanguard Group.
“His stewardship began in the aftermath of the financial crisis when public trust in the financial system was at an historic low. As a champion of initiatives such as the High Risk Broker program, improvements in BrokerCheck, the expansion of TRACE reporting of asset-backed securities, and the expansion of FINRA’s responsibilities across stock and options trading, Rick has put FINRA on the front line of the movement for stronger investor protections and greater market integrity. Under Rick’s management, FINRA has emerged as a leader in the reshaping of American financial regulation and helped to restore the faith in the capital markets that forms the bedrock of our financial system.”
To view the official announcement from FINRA, click here.