As SEC Loses Two Key Directors, a Replacement Is Named

Just as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken on more duties in implementing financial services reform, especially under the Dodd-Frank law, it is losing two key players from its team. 

In an anticipated departure, the SEC on Friday announced first that Andrew “Buddy” Donohue (left), the director since 2006 of the Commission’s Division of Investment Management, left the Commission on Friday. SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro then named one of her senior advisors, Jennifer B. McHugh, to replace Donohue until a permanent director was named.

Donohue, who led the SEC’s efforts in implementing rules to improve oversight of money market funds, increase investment advisor custody controls, and curtail investment advisor "pay-to-play" abuses. Donohue, 59, was named to the SEC by then-Chairman Christopher Cox; he had previously been Global General Counsel for Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.