Renee Jones, director of the Division of Corporation Finance at the Securities and Exchange Commission since June 2021, is departing the agency, effective February 3, and returning to the faculty at Boston College Law School.
“Renee has led the Division of Corporation Finance during a time when we have proposed—and in numerous cases adopted—critical reforms to benefit investors,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. “I am grateful for her counsel, judgment, and deep understanding of the capital markets. Thanks to Renee’s leadership, we have enhanced investors’ access to the full, fair, and truthful information as required by our securities laws to make informed investment decisions.”
At the SEC, Jones oversaw the division’s work that resulted in the proposal of twelve rules and the adoption of nine rules covering topics such as the disclosure of climate-related risks and cybersecurity risks, special purpose acquisition companies, executive compensation, and insider trading. She also oversaw the division’s disclosure review program as it sought enhanced corporate disclosures on climate risks and crypto asset risks, and implemented the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act.
Before joining the agency, Jones served as Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at BC Law, where she taught courses in corporations, securities regulation, corporate governance, and financial regulation. Previously, she represented private and public companies on corporate and securities matters at Hill & Barlow law firm. Jones is a member of the American Law Institute and has served as the co-chair of the Securities Law Committee of the Boston Bar Association. She received an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and a JD from Harvard Law School.
“I am grateful to Chair Gensler for providing me the incredible honor and privilege of leading the Division of Corporation Finance during this critical juncture for the capital markets and our national economy,” Jones said. “It’s been extremely rewarding to work alongside so many talented and dedicated people throughout the agency.”
She also thanked commissioners and other staff for their hard work. “I am proud of all that we have accomplished on behalf of investors over the past nineteen months. I have every confidence that the division will continue to deliver on the agency’s mission under Erik’s leadership, she said referring to Erik Gerding, the division’s deputy director, who will assume her position.