April 20, 2012

SEC Names Diane C. Blizzard as Associate Director for Regulatory Policy and Investment Adviser Regulation

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Diane C. Blizzard has been named Associate Director for Regulatory Policy and Investment Adviser Regulation in the Division of Investment Management. As Associate Director, Ms. Blizzard will supervise two offices that develop recommendations for rulemaking and other policy initiatives under the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act.

Ms. Blizzard replaces Robert Plaze, who has become Deputy Director of the Division. Ms. Blizzard has been a member of the Division of Investment Management staff for 12 years, most recently serving as Managing Executive. She has previously held several policy roles, including as Senior Adviser to the Director and as head of the Office of Regulatory Policy, one of the Division’s rulemaking offices she will now lead. Earlier in her career, Ms. Blizzard was counsel to an affiliate of the Investment Company Institute.

“Diane is an accomplished lawyer and a skilled manager and I look forward to her continued leadership in her new role,” said Eileen Rominger, director of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management.

“This is a great opportunity to work with Eileen Rominger and the talented Division staff on advancing Chairman Schapiro’s investor-focused regulatory agenda,” Ms. Blizzard said.

Ms. Blizzard holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and received her law degree from Georgetown University.