The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is pulling professionals from Freddie Mac and the Senate Banking Committee to fill two key roles within the agency.
CFPB Director Richard Cordray appointed Dan Smith to serve as the first, assistant director for the newly-created office of Financial Institutions and Business Liasion. He comes to the CFPB after serving Freddie Mac as director for industry and state regulations and previously represented Dehart and Darr Associates as vice president.
“I am very pleased to announce these updates to our leadership team as well as the creation of the Office of Financial Institutions and Business Liaison,” said CFPB director Richard Cordray. “As the Bureau moves forward with its important work, we continue to build a strong, talented team and to enhance our outreach to all stakeholders involved in improving markets for consumers and responsible businesses.”
Along with Smith, the CFPB named Catherine Galicia assistant director for legislative affairs. Galicia previously worked in the U.S. Senate and House and at one point served as senior counsel for the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs under Chairman Tim Johnson.
Galicia helped draft the consumer protection portion of the Dodd-Frank Act while counsel to then-Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd.
She brings an extensive background in legislative affairs to the position.
On the same day, the CFPB announced that Lisa Konwinski will move from the position of assistant director for legislative affairs to deputy associate director for external affairs.
Konwinski joined the bureau in 2011 after serving as deputy director of legislative affairs for President Obama. She also served as general counsel for the Senate Budget Committee under chairman Kent Conrad.
Hubert ‘Skip’ Humphrey is transitioning from assistant director in the office of older Americans to senior liaison officer for the bureau.
