On 24 June 2026, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission appointed Kathleen M. Hutchinson as Director of the Office of International Affairs, the division responsible for advising the Commission on international regulatory policy, coordinating cross border supervisory and enforcement cooperation, and engaging with foreign regulatory authorities worldwide. The appointment places a long serving US SEC official at the centre of the agency's international regulatory strategy at a time of increasing global coordination on digital assets, market supervision, enforcement cooperation and financial market regulation.
Kathleen Hutchinson has served as Acting Director of the Office of International Affairs since January 2025. She joined the SEC in 2003 and has been part of the Office of International Affairs since 2008, holding positions including Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Acting Director. The Office of International Affairs serves as the US SEC's principal channel for engagement with foreign regulators and international organisations, facilitating cross border enforcement assistance, supervisory cooperation and international policy development.
Announcing the appointment, US SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins stated:
“Kathleen has exhibited her dedication to public service and her commitment to our mission for over two decades, and I am grateful for her readiness to lead our Office of International Affairs on a permanent basis. She has effectively guided many international initiatives with our counterparts abroad, and I look forward to her continued leadership and counsel on international policy and cooperation issues.”
Commenting on her appointment, Ms Hutchinson stated:
“The talented staff in our Office of International Affairs make it a privilege to come to work each day and serve investors and our markets. Advancing the US SEC’s international priorities through engagement with foreign counterparts on policy issues, supervisory and enforcement matters, and technical assistance is critical to the US SEC’s ability to carry out its mission. I’m grateful to Chairman Atkins for this opportunity and look forward to continue working with the Commission, my US SEC colleagues, and foreign authorities to address evolving challenges facing global markets today.”
She added that continued cooperation with foreign authorities will remain important in addressing challenges facing global financial markets.
