The Securities and Exchange Commission has named William Birdthistle, currently a professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, as director of the Division of Investment Management.
The Division oversees regulatory policy for investment advisors and investment companies, including mutual funds and other investment products.
"Professor Birdthistle will bring remarkable expertise in investment funds to the SEC," said SEC Chairman Gary Gensler in a statement.
"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," he explained.
Gensler thanked Sarah ten Siethoff for serving as the Division of Investment Management's acting director and for serving as his counsel during his first eight months as chairman. "I look forward to continuing to work with her going forward," Gensler said.
"The SEC's Division of Investment Management has an exceptional reputation for protecting investors in funds and the asset management arena," Birdthistle added. "I am eager to work with the dedicated staff behind those efforts to carry out the policy agenda that Chair Gensler has established to help investors and others."