FINRA Enforcement Executive Director James Shorris Returning to Private Sector

WASHINGTON — The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced today that James S. Shorris, who has served for more than seven years in leadership positions for FINRA's Enforcement Department and that of its predecessor, NASD, will leave the organization in April to return to the private sector. Shorris has been responsible for directing the investigation and prosecution of disciplinary actions at the national and district levels.

Shorris joined NASD in 2003 as Deputy Chief of Enforcement and became Chief of Enforcement in 2006. He became Executive Director of Enforcement when NASD and NYSE Regulation merged to form FINRA in July 2007. Prior to joining NASD, Shorris was counsel to the law firm of Bingham McCutchen in Boston, and held legal and compliance positions with two broker-dealers in Massachusetts. He began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office where he served in the Trial Division and the Investigation Division.

"Jim has always been a steady, knowledgeable hand, motivating our lawyers and investigators and guiding the day-to-day operations of the Enforcement program," said Richard Ketchum, FINRA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "His strong management skills and deep knowledge of the industry coupled with his demonstrated commitment to protecting investors led to some of the most important enforcement cases FINRA and its predecessor NASD brought during his tenure here."

"It has been a privilege serving FINRA and NASD over the last seven years, and working with such a talented and dedicated team in the Enforcement Department," Shorris said. "I am especially proud of the actions we brought over that time. And I am gratified that by bringing those actions, we were able to return many millions of dollars to aggrieved investors."

FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is the largest non-governmental regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. FINRA is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through effective and efficient regulation and complementary compliance and technology-based services. FINRA touches virtually every aspect of the securities business – from registering and educating all industry participants to examining securities firms; writing and enforcing rules and the federal securities laws, informing and educating the investing public, providing trade reporting and other industry utilities, and administering the largest dispute resolution forum for investors and registered firms. For more information, please visit www.finra.org.