On 21 April 2025, Paul S. Atkins was officially sworn in as the 34th Chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC), following his nomination by President Donald J. Trump on 20 January 2025 and confirmation by the United States Senate on 9 April 2025. Chairman Atkins previously served as a Commissioner of the US SEC from 2002 to 2008, having been appointed by President George W. Bush. A member of the New York and Florida bars, Chairman Atkins holds a Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law (1983) and an A.B., Phi Beta Kappa, from Wofford College (1980).
Prior to his reappointment, Chairman Atkins served as chief executive of Patomak Global Partners, a regulatory consulting firm he founded in 2009. In that capacity, he was instrumental in shaping industry best practices, particularly within the emerging digital asset sector. His corporate governance experience includes serving as an independent director and non-executive chairman of the board of BATS Global Markets, Inc. from 2012 to 2015. Chairman Atkins’ early regulatory experience includes serving on the staff of former US SEC Chairmen Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt from 1990 to 1994, ultimately as chief of staff and counselor. Before his public service, he practised corporate law in New York, focusing on securities transactions, M&A, and cross-border transactions, including a 2½-year residency in Paris, where he was admitted as a conseil juridique.
In his public statement, US SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins remarked, “I am honored by the trust and confidence President Trump and the Senate have placed in me to lead the SEC. As I return to the SEC, I am pleased to join with my fellow Commissioners and the agency’s dedicated professionals to advance its mission to facilitate capital formation; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and protect investors. Together we will work to ensure that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business.”
(Source: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025-68)
