US SEC Appoints William Birdthistle as Director of Division of Investment Management

(Source: Chicago-Kent College of Law)

Fazzaco learned that the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has appointed William Birdthistle as Director of the Division of Investment Management.

"Professor Birdthistle will bring remarkable expertise in investment funds to the SEC,"said SEC Chair Gary Gensler."The Division of Investment Management develops regulatory policies to oversee investment companies and investment advisers so that American investors can confidently save to buy homes, pay for college, or plan for retirement. I look forward to working closely with William to execute our mission."

Birdthistle is currently a professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Prior to academia, he practiced law at Ropes & Gray in Boston for five years as a corporate associate in the firm's investment management practice.

The Division of Investment Management supports the commission in its mission to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation. The division is responsible for developing regulatory policy for investment companies and for investment advisers.

Before Birdthistle, Sarah ten Siethoff served as the Acting Director of the Securities Exchange Commission's Division of Investment Management from January 2021. She is also the Associate Director for the Division of Investment Management's Rulemaking Office, a position she has held since 2018.

This year, the SEC has announced a number of key executive appointments. Earlier thsi month, the commission named Ernesto Lanza​ as Acting Director of the Office of Municipal Securities (OMS), replacing Rebecca J. Olsen, who was named Deputy Chief for the Division of Enforcement's Public Finance Abuse (PFA) Unit.