SEC Chair Gensler Appoints Initial Staff; Acting Enforcement Director Named

The SEC announced the appointments of Prashant Yerramalli, Heather Slavkin Corzo, Kevin Burris, and Scott Schneider to Chairman Gary Gensler’s senior staff, responsible for advising him on matters before the Commission. “I am incredibly honored that these four individuals joined this team to work on behalf of American investors,” said Gensler. “Prashant, Heather, Kevin, and Scott bring wide-ranging perspectives and diverse experience to the Commission and will work closely with our dedicated career staff to execute the SEC’s critical mission.” Prashant Yerramalli will continue to serve as the SEC’s Chief of Staff, a role he has held since January under Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee. In that capacity, Mr. Yerramalli will serve as a senior advisor to Gensler on all aspects of the agency’s mission, including enforcement, rulemaking, examinations, and agency operations. Heather Slavkin Corzo as policy director will lead a team of policy experts who will advise Gensler on SEC rulemakings. Immediately before joining the SEC, Corzo was the Director of Capital Markets Policy at the AFL-CIO, the Head of U.S. Policy at the Principles for Responsible Investment, and a Senior Fellow at Americans for Financial Reform. She also served as Director of the AFL-CIO’s Office of Investment and previously as its Senior Legal and Policy Advisor. The SEC also announced that Alex Oh resigned her position as Director of the Division of Enforcement. According to media reports, Oh resigned after a judge questioned her conduct in recent litigation. Melissa Hodgman will return to the role of Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement. "Melissa is an exceptional attorney who has proven to be an effective leader of the Enforcement Division. I’m grateful that she will take on this role again and look forward to working closely with her to fulfill the mission of the SEC," said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. "I thank Alex for her willingness to serve the country at this important time." Hodgman served as the Enforcement Division's Acting Director from January 2021, through April 2021. Before that, she was the Associate Director in the SEC's Home Office since October 2016. Hodgman began working in the Enforcement Division in 2008 as a staff attorney.