FINRA will conduct a special meeting of large firms on Thursday, 1/12/12 to elect an individual to fill a vacant Large Firm Governor seat on FINRA's Board of Governors.  The FINRA Nominating Committee has nominated Gregory Fleming as its nominee (see profile below) - and he is running unopposed.  Large Firm Governors must be registered with a large firm - i.e., one that employs more than 500 registered persons. Who's Eligible to Vote. Large firms that were FINRA members as of the close of business on 12/13/11 will be eligible to vote in this election.  FINRA urges all eligible firms to vote in the election using one of the methods described below.  In order for a proxy to be considered valid, it must be signed by the executive representative of a large firm eligible to vote in the election. Voting Methods. Firms can submit a proxy by any lawful means, including using ... (i) Telephone;  (ii) U.S. mail; or, (iii) Internet.  Alternatively, firms may attend the special meeting and vote in person. FINRA Contacts. Direct questions to:   Marcia Asquith, SVP and Corporate Secretary:  (202) 728-8949; or  Grant Callery, EVP and General Counsel:  (202) 728-8285. Gregory J. Fleming - Profile. Mr. Fleming is President of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and President of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, including Merchant Banking.  He also serves as a member of the firm's Operating Committee. Mr. Fleming joined Morgan Stanley in February 2010 as president of Morgan Stanley Investment Management and assumed the additional role of president of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in January 2011.  Prior to joining the firm, he had served as president and COO of Merrill Lynch from June 2007 to early 2009.  From 2003 to 2007, he served as EVP and co-president of Merrill Lynch's Global Markets and Investment Banking Group.  Mr. Fleming began with Merrill Lynch in 1992, as an investment banker. After leaving Merrill Lynch in January 2009, Mr. Fleming spent a year in academia at Yale Law's Center for the Study of Corporate Law.  There,  he was a senior research scholar and distinguished visiting fellow. Mr. Fleming is a former board member of BlackRock., a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a director of Colgate University (economics major, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and a member of the board of advisors for the Yale Law School (where he received his J.D). For complete details, go to:   [FINRA Election Notice, 12/14/11].