Joel R. Levin, Director of Chicago Regional Office, to Leave SEC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2021-63
Washington D.C., April 16, 2021 —
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Joel R. Levin, the Director of its Chicago Regional Office, will leave the agency at the end of May.
Mr. Levin has served as Director of the Chicago office since May 2018, overseeing the agency’s second-largest regional office of more than 260 attorneys, accountants, investigators, securities compliance examiners and other personnel involved in the investigation and prosecution of enforcement actions and the performance of compliance examinations. The nine-state region overseen by the Chicago office is home to roughly 20 percent of the nation’s population, and exercises jurisdiction over more than 2,000 investment advisers and investment companies with over $10 trillion in assets under management, and over 500 broker-dealers with more than 35,000 branch offices.
“Throughout his tenure, Joel has demonstrated an abiding commitment to every aspect of the work of the Chicago Regional Office, including examining registrants, holding wrongdoers accountable, and educating the investing public. Joel can be very proud of all that our Chicago office staff has accomplished on behalf of investors under his strong leadership,” said SEC Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee.
“Joel was a tireless advocate for investor protection during his time as Director of the Chicago Regional Office,” said Peter B. Driscoll, Director of the SEC’s Division of Examinations. “Joel’s outreach efforts along with his experience and leadership resulted in a significant impact for the benefit of investors in the Chicago region. He will be missed.”
“For the last three years, Joel has worked day in and day out together with his colleagues in the Chicago Regional Office to protect investors and our markets. His dedication to our mission and public service, combined with his work ethic, allowed him to achieve tremendous results even in the face of significant challenges like the government shutdown and the pandemic,” said Melissa R. Hodgman, Acting Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “Joel’s thoughtful guidance and commitment to his colleagues in Chicago and across the Commission will be missed.”