The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Brett Redfearn has been named Director of the agency’s Division of Trading and Markets.

The SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets establishes and maintains standards for fair, orderly, and efficient markets. The division oversees the major securities market participants and infrastructure including, among others, broker-dealers, self-regulatory organizations (including stock exchanges, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, and clearing agencies), alternative trading systems, and transfer agents.

“Brett’s extensive markets experience and his longstanding, active engagement with investors, financial services firms, exchanges, and the SEC make him exceptionally well positioned to lead the Division of Trading and Markets,” said Chairman Jay Clayton. “Brett has been a thought leader on a wide range of issues facing our rapidly changing capital markets, and I know he will continuously ask the question, ‘are our markets best serving the long-term interests of the investing public?'”

Mr. Redfearn added, “I have always been impressed with the level of dedication of the Trading and Markets team and feel honored to be asked to take on this important role at this critical juncture in the evolution of our securities markets.”

Mr. Redfearn has a long history in the U.S. equity markets, having worked with investors, exchanges and broker-dealers. During his career, Mr. Redfearn has focused on how technology, regulation and business trends are changing trading patterns across asset classes and geographic regions. He has helped build electronic trading products, worked closely with exchanges and other trading venues as these products evolved, and engaged with global asset managers on major regulatory developments. He has also been a frequent contributor at policy forums surrounding U.S. equity markets, and has been an active participant at several meetings of the SEC’s Equity Market Structure Advisory Committee.

Mr. Redfearn joins the SEC from J.P. Morgan, where he was Global Head of Market Structure for the Corporate & Investment Bank. He started his career at the American Stock Exchange, where he ran Business Strategy and Equity Order Flow. During his career, Mr. Redfearn has served on the boards of Bats Global Markets, the Chicago Stock Exchange, BIDS Trading, and the National Organization of Investment Professionals.

Mr. Redfearn earned his M.A. in Political Science from the New School for Social Research and his B.A. from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.