Washington, D.C., May 23, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that SEC Secretary Nancy Morris is leaving the Commission to become an Executive Vice President at Allianz Global Investors of America, where she will have broad U.S. legal compliance responsibilities.
Since she was appointed SEC Secretary by SEC Chairman Christopher Cox in early 2006, Ms. Morris has overseen the legal review of all SEC documents submitted to and approved by the Commission, including rulemaking releases and enforcement orders. She also has provided advice to the Commission and its staff on practice and procedure.
Ms. Morris also has led an ongoing effort to help investors gain easier and quicker access to current SEC information and historic documents and records. Under her leadership, the SEC significantly enhanced search capabilities on the SEC Web site, launched RSS document feeds, and archived online several historic collections including SEC Annual Reports and speeches by Commissioners and staff. Ms. Morris also established a new SEC Archivist position to help oversee and enhance the records management process. Today is her final day of work at the SEC.
"The Secretary is central to the Commission's operations, and in this key role, Nancy Morris has set an exemplary standard for public service on behalf of America's investors and capital markets," said Chairman Cox. "Nancy's legal acuity, professionalism, and management skills have been matched by her cheerful manner and bright sense of humor. The Commission, and the investors and markets we serve, owe a profound debt of gratitude for Nancy's service. We wish her every success and happiness in the next phase of her remarkable career."
Ms. Morris said, "It has been my high honor and privilege to have served this great agency and the everyday Americans who depend on the SEC's vigorous commitment to fair markets, capital formation, and investor protection. I am grateful to Chairman Cox and his fellow Commissioners past and present for their leadership, and for affording me this opportunity to work with the SEC's extraordinary staff on behalf of investors."
Prior to becoming Secretary, Ms. Morris had been an Attorney-Fellow in the SEC's Division of Investment Management from May 2004 to January 2006. In that capacity, she was responsible for developing rules, interpretations, policy, and research to support Commission action.
During a previous tour of duty with the SEC from 1985 to 1992, Ms. Morris served as an attorney in the Office of General Counsel (1985-1987), Counsel to Commissioner Joseph Grundfest (1987-1988), and Deputy Chief Counsel for the Division of Investment Management (1988-1992).
In the private sector, Ms. Morris served more than a decade as Vice President and Associate Legal Counsel to T. Rowe Price Associates, and as an attorney for Fidelity Investments. She also was an associate for Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan in Washington D.C.
Ms. Morris holds a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Idaho Law Review. She holds a B.A. (cum laude) from Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. She is a Member of the District of Columbia Bar.