The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently appointed Kathleen Hutchinson to serve as the agency’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) director.
Hutchinson began her legal career in private practice in Washington, D.C., and New York City. She has served with the SEC since 2003 when she began as an attorney-advisor in the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, now the Division of Examinations. She joined OIA in 2008 and has held several positions including deputy director and assistant director. She has been acting director twice, most recently starting in January 2025.
“Kathleen has exhibited her dedication to public service and her commitment to our mission for over two decades, and I am grateful for her readiness to lead our Office of International Affairs on a permanent basis,” SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said. “She has effectively guided many international initiatives with our counterparts abroad, and I look forward to her continued leadership and counsel on international policy and cooperation issues.”
“I’m grateful to Chairman Atkins for this opportunity and look forward to continue working with the commission, my SEC colleagues, and foreign authorities to address evolving challenges facing global markets today,” Hutchinson said.
OIA advises the SEC on international policy matters, provides technical assistance and coordinates with foreign authorities to facilitate cross-border enforcement and supervisory cooperation.