Blass Named IM Director; DERA Chief Announced; Clayton Fills Executive Posts

The SEC announced that Dalia Blass has been named Director of the Division of Investment Management. Blass rejoins the agency from law firm Ropes & Gray LLP. She previously served in several leadership roles in the Division of Investment Management, most recently as Assistant Chief Counsel. The SEC also announced that Jeffrey H. Harris has been named Director of the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis.  He replaces former director Mark Flannery who left the agency to return to teaching. Harris is currently a professor at American University in Washington, D.C., and recently served as Chief Economist at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. SEC Chairman Jay Clayton also named several people to his executive staff, who are “responsible for advising the Chairman on all matters before the Commission, working closely with agency staff, and helping the Chairman perform all day-to-day operations needed to fulfill the SEC’s mission,” according to an SEC news release. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the White House is expected to soon nominate Columbia University law professor Robert Jackson to the vacant Democratic commissioner slot at the SEC.