The US financial regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission, has made Geoffrey Aronow chief counsel and senior policy advisor in the office of international affairs.

In his new role, Aronow will provide legal counsel to the office director, as well as advising and formulating the commission’s international policies. He will manage staff input on rulemakings and interpretive guidance on international affairs and also represent the SEC before international organizations and committees when dealing with international legal issues.

The appointment comes at a time when the SEC is dealing with increasingly complex international legal issues, and therefore needed a chief counsel with a broad background in international securities law.

“As the international regulatory arena continues to grow, the related legal and policy issues will become an increasingly critical part of the commission’s work,” added SEC chair Mary Jo White.  

Prior to this appointment, Aronow served as senior counsel to White, as well as the SEC’s general counsel under chairman Elisse Walter.