FINRA Names New Enforcement Chief
Bill St. Louis succeeds Jessica Hopper, who stepped down in February.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority said Monday that it has named Bill St. Louis as head of Enforcement, effective immediately.
St. Louis was most recently head of FINRA’s National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Program, the self-regulator’s Financial Intelligence Unit and specialized investigative units covering anti-money laundering and fraud, cybersecurity, high-risk representatives and vulnerable adults and seniors.
He succeeds Jessica Hopper, who stepped down on Feb. 3 after 18 years with the regulator. Christopher Kelly, senior vice president and deputy head of enforcement, was named acting head of enforcement at that time.
St. Louis will be responsible for the management of approximately 350 enforcement staff in 11 offices across the United States and will report directly to FINRA CEO Robert Cook.
“Bill’s broad and deep experience at FINRA, including his previous senior roles in Enforcement and Member Supervision, and his most recent position as head of the NCFC, will serve him well as Head of Enforcement,” Cook said Monday in a statement. “I am confident he will bring exemplary leadership, expertise and vision to bear in his new role supporting the Enforcement department’s contributions to FINRA’s mission of investor protection and market integrity.”
St. Louis added in the statement that he looks forward “to strengthening FINRA’s Regulatory Operations, ensuring integrated oversight and increasing safety in the market as we advance our important work through the regulatory opportunities and challenges ahead.”
St. Louis joined FINRA in 1998, initially holding several positions in the enforcement department, including serving as regional chief counsel for FINRA’s North Region.
He also served as director of FINRA’s New York office from 2014 to 2019 as well as senior vice president and regional director of FINRA’s Northeast region from 2019 to 2020.
St. Louis holds a Juris Doctor from New York University Law School and an undergraduate degree from Baruch College.