WASHINGTON — Robert L. D. Colby, a former Securities and Exchange Commission official, has been named chief legal officer at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, effective June 18.
In his new post, Colby will oversee corporate and regulatory functions of FINRA’s office of general counsel and its regulatory policy group, which implements the authority’s corporate financing and advertising rules.
Grant Callery, FINRA’s general counsel, has announced he will retire Oct. 1, and Marc Menchel, general counsel for regulation, is leaving FINRA June 1 and returning to the private sector.
Richard G. Ketchum, FINRA chairman and chief executive officer, called Colby “a perfect match for this key position and an excellent addition to our management team.”
“Bob’s unparalleled expertise in both regulatory and corporate law makes him uniquely suited to be FINRA’s first chief legal officer.” Ketchum added.
Colby is currently a partner at law firm David Polk & Wardwell LLP, where he focuses on regulatory and compliance matters affecting securities and derivatives dealers, financial institutions and clearing organizations.
Prior to joining David Polk, Colby worked 28 years at the SEC, holding positions including deputy director and chief counsel in the commission’s trading and markets division, formerly market regulation, and chief of the division’s market structure branch.
