The Senate on Thursday confirmed Jonathan Gould, most recently a partner at law firm Jones Day, as the new head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, or OCC, in a 50-45 vote.
Gould, who will serve a five-year term, replaces Rodney Hood, who has been acting comptroller since February.
Commenting on the confirmation, Hood noted that Gould’s private sector experience and commitment to public service “have prepared him to quickly advance meaningful reforms that will benefit the federal banking system.”
“Mr. Gould understands the critical importance of right-sizing regulations to be appropriately tailored, embracing innovation in the banking sector, and ensuring fair access to financial services,” Hood added.
Who Is Jonathan Gould?
Gould’s confirmation marks his return to OCC, where he served as the office’s senior deputy comptroller and chief counsel from 2018 to 2021. During this period, he spearheaded innovation efforts, including modernizing the banking chartering process and issuing legal opinions on stablecoins and cryptocurrency custody, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Before joining Jones Day, he was chief legal officer at blockchain technology company Bitfury.
The 32nd comptroller of the currency previously served as a director at investment firm BlackRock and Promontory Financial Group.
The Princeton University graduate spent two years within the Senate Banking Committee as a counsel and served as an associate at law firm Alston & Bird for four years.
Gould holds a law degree from Washington and Lee University.
