Vanessa Countryman has been named acting secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Countryman replaces Brent Fields, who is leaving the office on March 11 to accept a job as associate director of disclosure review and accounting in the Division of Investment Management.
Previously, Countryman served as chief counsel in the SEC’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA). Between 2010 and 2012, she served as counsel to two different SEC Commissioners, providing legal advice on regulatory and enforcement matters.
The Office of the Secretary reviews all documents submitted to the commission, tracks documents submitted to the commission, schedules commission meetings, maintains records of official commission actions, and provides public notice of those actions on the SEC.gov website and in the Federal Register.
“I appreciate Vanessa’s willingness to step into the role of Acting Secretary during this time,” SEC Chairman Jay Clayton said. “Her deep knowledge of agency procedures and strong relationships with Commissioners and senior staff across the divisions and offices will help ensure the Commission continues to run smoothly.”
Prior to joining the SEC, Countryman practiced law at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She earned her J.D. from the University of Chicago, a Master’s degree from Oxford University, and a B.A. from Columbia University
“It is a great honor to be asked to serve in this role. I look forward to working with and supporting the Office of the Secretary’s exceptional team to carry out the Commission’s work on behalf of investors,” Countryman said.
Fields will become the new associate director of disclosure review and accounting in the Division of Investment Management. In this role, he will oversee the division’s disclosure and accounting review programs and policies that impact nearly 16,000 investment companies.
“During my time at the Commission, I have had the opportunity to see Brent’s dedication to the SEC and its mission firsthand,” Clayton said. “Brent is a proven leader who engenders an environment of respect, purpose, and achievement. Our Main Street investors are fortunate to have an individual of his caliber leading an office that plays a key part in ensuring transparency in our capital markets.”
Fields joined the agency’s Division of Enforcement in 1996 before moving on to other positions.
“I look forward to returning to the office where I began my investment company career, and working with the dedicated team in that office,” Fields said. “The disclosure and accounting staff perform a vital function, informing and protecting investors – particularly retail investors – and I am excited to return to that role.”