George S. Canellos has been appointed the Securities Exchange Commission’s (SEC) deputy director of the Division of the Enforcement after serving as director of the agency’s New York regional office.
A former federal prosecutor, Canellos has been director of the SEC’s New York office since July 2009, overseeing investigation, prosecution, enforcement actions and compliance inspections for the largest concentration of SEC-registered financial institutions in the US.
“For the past three years, George has been an incredibly effective advocate for investors and has helped the New York office take on some of the most difficult cases in the securities arena,” said SEC chairman Mary Schapiro. “With his experience, he is extremely well-suited to help head an Enforcement Division that has brought a record number of cases and is pursuing a host of complex investigations.”
Canellos was an assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1994 to 2003, serving in a number of positions, including chief of the major crimes unit, senior trial counsel of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, and deputy chief appellate attorney. He will report to Robert S. Khuzami, director of the SEC’s enforcement division.
“Everyone interested in the fair, thoughtful and vigorous enforcement of the federal securities laws will be thrilled with the appointment of George Canellos as deputy director,” said Khuzami.
A graduate of Harvard College and Columbia University School of Law, Canellos was a litigation partner at the law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP directly before joining the SEC.
Canellos starts his new role on 4 June. Andrew Calamari, senior associate regional director and co-head of Enforcement for the New York regional office since 2004, will become acting director of New York.