Paul Atkins, who previously served as a Securities and Exchange Commission member from 2002 to 2008, was sworn in on Monday as the 34th chairman of SEC following his confirmation by the Senate on April 9.
“As I return to the SEC, I am pleased to join with my fellow Commissioners and the agency’s dedicated professionals to advance its mission to facilitate capital formation; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and protect investors,” Atkins said in a statement published Monday.
“Together we will work to ensure that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business,” he added.
Paul Atkins’ Career Background
Prior to SEC, Atkins was CEO and founder of Patomak Global Partners.
From 2012 to 2015, he served as an independent director and non-executive chairman of the board of BATS Global Markets.
During his tenure as an SEC commissioner during President George W. Bush’s administration, he pushed for consistency, transparency and the use of cost-benefit analysis. He also represented the commission during meetings of the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets and the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council.
Atkins previously served as a consultant on securities and investment management industry matters and started his career as a lawyer in New York, supporting U.S. and international clients in mergers and acquisitions and securities offerings.
He has helped lead initiatives to establish best practices for the digital asset sector.
The Vanderbilt University School of Law graduate is a member of the New York and Florida bars.
