[ by Melanie Gretchen ]

President Barack Obama has selected a current Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission as the Agency's new Chairman.  Edith Ramirez, 44, who succeeds Jon Leibowitz, has been with the FTC since 2010.  Ms. Ramirez's promotion leaves an open spot on the Commission.  Now word yet on whom President Obama may nominate for that position.  Currently there are 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans on the Commission. 

Ms. Ramirez worked for Obama during the 2008 presidential race, and went on to be Obama's director of Latino Outreach in California in 2008.  She became a commissioner in 2010. 

Before joining the FTC, Ms. Ramirez practiced law in Los Angeles, specializing in business litigation.  Her clientele included Mattel Inc and Northrop Grumman Corp.  Unlike the role of chairwoman of the SEC, Ms. Ramirez will not require Senate confirmation.  She graduated from Harvard Law a year after the president and was editor of the Law Review.

Basis for Selection.   Antitrust experts say that the selection of Ms. Ramirez, a moderate, over fellow Democratic Commissioner Julie Brill, indicates the White House wants a centrist FTC.  All in all, her appointment has been received as a positive move. 

FTC Agenda.   Ms. Ramirez, who took the FTC chair on Monday, faces several high-profile mergers, including:  (i)  Office Depot's proposed offer for rival office supplier OfficeMax;  (ii) Tesoro Corp's purchase of a BP refinery in gas-price sensitive California; and,  (iii) Tempur-Pedic's proposed purchase of mattress rival Sealy Corp.  The agency is also working on online privacy issues, that often pit companies against consumers.

For further details, go to [Reuters, 2/28/13].