Mary Jo White has been confirmed as US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman by the Senate.
Earlier this year, the former first female US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, was put forward to succeed interim chairman Elisse Walter by President Barak Obama.
Walter took over the position when previous chairman Mary Schapiro stepped down in November 2012 after nearly four years in the job and one of the longest tenures in SEC history.
White’s most recent role was as partner in New York based law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton where she chaired the firm’s more than 225 lawyer large litigation department. White has also previously served as a director of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, and on its Executive, Audit and Policy Committee.
US Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) executive director Cindy Fornelli called White an "excellent choice" for SEC chairman.
"White has a sterling record of enforcing the law in our capital markets and fighting for investors’ interests. The CAQ vigorously supports her position that as chairman, the American public will be her client," Fornelli added.
White’s start date has yet to be officially confirmed.
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