[ by Howard Haykin ]

SEC Chairman Elisse Walter on Monday named John Ramsay as Acting Director of the Division of Trading and Markets, replacing Robert Cook who announced plans to step down after a short transition period.

Mr. Ramsey, a Deputy Director for the Division since September 2010, is responsible for broker-dealer financial responsibility, risk oversight, and clearance and settlement functions.  He's played a key role in the advancement of rules mandated by the Dodd-Frank Reform Act.

Chairman Walter had this to say about her appointment:  “John has a wealth of experience to draw upon and a firm grasp of the intricacies of issues.  He is well-positioned to oversee the Division ..."

Role of Trading and Markets Division.    The division:

• establishes and maintains standards for fair, orderly, and efficient markets.
• regulates the major securities market participants, including B/Ds, transfer agents and SROs.
• has responsibility for oversight of security-based swap markets and participants in such markets.

John Ramsey's Profile.  Mr. Ramsay's first stint with the SEC ran from 1989 to 1994 - serving as counsel to then-Commissioner Mary Schapiro, and in other roles.  He's held key regulatory policy positions at the CFTC and NASD.  In the private sector, Mr. Ramsay was a partner with Morgan Lewis & Bockius, an SVP of the BMA, or Bond Market Association (now a part of SIFMA), and managing director and deputy general counsel at Citigroup Global Markets.

Mr. Ramsay received his JD from the University of Michigan in 1984, and graduated summa cum laude from University of Texas at Austin in 1981, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.    [SEC PR 12-268, 12/17/12]