Didem Nisanci Named SEC Chief of Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2009-64

Washington, D.C., March 24, 2009 — Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary L. Schapiro announced today that Didem A. Nisanci has been named SEC Chief of Staff.

Ms. Nisanci most recently served as Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment chaired by U.S. Senator Jack Reed. As staff director, she developed and implemented the subcommittee's legislative and oversight agenda. She will begin working at the SEC later this week.

"I am pleased Didem has agreed to bring her extensive background, knowledge, experience, and leadership skills to the SEC during this critical time," said Chairman Schapiro. "Didem has been vital to Senate oversight of the SEC during the past few years, and now she will help lead the agency as we work with other financial regulators and Congress to improve investor confidence in the markets."

Ms. Nisanci said, "I am honored to have the opportunity to join the SEC and its team of talented and dedicated professionals. These are extraordinary economic times and the Commission plays a vital role in improving investor protections and bolstering our financial markets. Under Chairman Schapiro's stewardship, and together with the Commission's dedicated staff, we will build a stronger SEC."

As Staff Director for the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment, Ms. Nisanci played a key role in the successful Congressional effort to increase the SEC's budget for fiscal year 2009 in order to enhance the agency's risk management, examination, and enforcement efforts. During her tenure, the subcommittee held hearings examining the root causes of the financial crisis, over-the-counter derivatives, credit rating agencies, risk management, consolidated supervised entities, and off balance sheet accounting. Ms. Nisanci also served as a lead staff negotiator for key provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Ms. Nisanci served at the U.S. Department of the Treasury as Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs and Public Liaison. She received the Treasury Secretary's Award for Meritorious Service, the Treasury Secretary's Certificate for development of the Administration's money laundering strategy and legislation, the Treasury Secretary's Certificate for the passage of financial modernization legislation, and the Treasury Secretary and Undersecretary Certificate for Debt Management.

Ms. Nisanci earned a B.A. in Economics and Government from Smith College in 1995.

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