Jeffery Heslop, COO of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is to leave the agency in February.
Heslop joined the SEC in 2010 as its first ever COO. He is credited with leading innovation in business processes, internal controls and technology infrastructure, ultimately reducing costs within the SEC, and improving efficiency and cooperation between divisions.
Before joining the SEC, he spent 12 years at Capital One, most recently in the role of managing vice president of information risk management.
Kenneth Johnson, current CFO of the SEC will become acting COO until a permanent replacement is found.
Michael Piwowar, acting chair of the SEC, said: “As the SEC’s first COO, Jeffery Heslop helped the agency streamline operations and leverage resources to more effectively serve the investors and markets.”
Heslop said: “It has been a true honour to serve with the extraordinarily dedicated and self-sacrificing professionals who comprise the agency’s staff.”
He added: “In particular, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the staff members from the offices under the office of the COO, who, through their collaborative effort, have played an instrumental role in an effort to modernise the agency’s human capital, business process, and technological capabilities.”
“Their contribution to the SEC’s unwavering and deep commitment to protect America’s investors has been simply remarkable, and I am deeply grateful to have had the privilege of leading them.”
Heslop’s departure follows a major reshuffle in SEC leadership, which saw previous chair Mary Jo White step down at the end of the Obama administration. Michael Piwowar is currently acting chair, and will be replaced by Jay Clayton, a partner at law firm Sullivan & Cromwell.
Following White’s announcement, both Annie Small, the SEC’s chief legal officer, and chief of staff Andrew Donohue also announced they would leave the agency in January.
Image: Shutterstock 