The Securities and Exchange Commission named Judge Margaret “Meg” Ryan as the SEC’s Director of the Division of Enforcement, reports AdvisorHub.
Ryan, who assumed the role on Sept.2, takes over for Acting Director of Enforcement Sam Waldon, who will return to his previous role as Chief Counsel for the Division.
Ryan is a senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces who was nominated for that position in 2006 by President George W. Bush and served the entirety of her term through July 2020.
Her appointment was announced by SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. “She brings to the Commission decades of experience as a respected judge and practitioner of the law,” Atkins said. “She is fulfilling a critical role. Judge Ryan will lead the Division guided by Congress’ original intent: enforcing the securities laws, particularly as they relate to fraud and manipulation.”
Ryan currently is a lecturer on military law and justice at Harvard University Law School. Before serving as a judge, she was a partner at Wiley Rein & Fielding and Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott. She previously served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and to Judge J. Michael Luttig of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Ryan was on a list of potential Supreme Court nominees published by Donald Trump in his 2016 presidential campaign.
“It is my honor to join the Commission as Director of the Division of Enforcement,” said Judge Ryan. “I look forward to joining the Commission in its important work to ensure that the Division is true to the SEC’s mission in taking action on behalf of investors harmed by those who break the securities laws and providing an effective deterrent against fraudulent and manipulative activities in our financial markets.”
Reuters reported that legal sources viewed the selection of Ryan as an unconventional choice for a position that has been typically filled by former criminal prosecutors or agency lawyers who are expert in securities laws.
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