FINRA Names Stephen M. Cutler to Board of Governors

WASHINGTON – The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has named a new Large-Firm Governor – Stephen M. Cutler, Vice Chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co. – to its Board of Governors. Cutler was appointed to complete the term of former Governor Gregory Fleming, who resigned his board seat earlier this year.  

Cutler joined JPMorgan as its General Counsel in 2007 from the law firm of WilmerHale in Washington, D.C., where he was a partner and co-chair of the firm's Securities Department. Prior to that, he was the director of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Enforcement Division. Before joining the SEC in 1999, he was a partner at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, where he worked for 11 years.

Cutler obtained his bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Yale and his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal.

“Steve brings a valuable perspective and a keen understanding of securities regulation and the industry to FINRA’s Board,” said FINRA Chairman Jack Brennan. “We welcome Steve and look forward to working with him.” 

“FINRA will benefit from Steve’s depth of industry and regulatory knowledge in advancing our mission of protecting investors and ensuring the integrity of our markets," said Robert Cook, FINRA's President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are very fortunate to have Steve join the FINRA Board.”

FINRA is overseen by a Board of Governors, the majority of whom are public representatives. The 10 industry governors include three from large firms, one from medium-size firms, three from small firms, one floor member, one independent dealer/insurance affiliate and one investment company affiliate. FINRA's CEO has the remaining seat. 

FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, regulates 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 rules, enforcing those rules and the federal securities laws, and informing and educating the investing public. In addition, FINRA provides surveillance and other regulatory services for equities and options markets, as well as trade reporting and other industry utilities. FINRA also administers the largest dispute resolution forum for investors and firms. For more information, please visit www.finra.org.