John Ramsay

John Ramsay is the chief market policy and regulatory officer for IEX Group. He joined the company in that position in June 2014. In that role, he will help IEX with the process of applying to the SEC to become an exchange. He also will work with Wall Street firms, brokers, and exchanges.

He was formerly the acting director of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Trading and Markets. He left the SEC in March 2014. 

Ramsay was at the SEC from 1989 to 1994 in the Division of Trading and Markets and then rejoined the regulator in 2010. From December 2012 to February 2014 he oversaw the group responsible for regulating broker-dealers and self-regulatory organizations, including stock exchanges.

While at the SEC, he spearheaded work on the Volcker rule, a part of the Dodd-Frank Act that banned proprietary trading by banks. He also led the SEC's response in 2013 to the data-feed glitch that brought down the Nasdaq Stock Market for several hours.

Ramsay also practiced as a partner in private law practice, as a senior officer at the Bond Market Association, and as Managing Director and deputy general counsel at Citigroup Global Markets.

He was a partner with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP from 1999 to 2001.

He also served as deputy general counsel for FINRA from 1996 to 1999. While at FINRA, he worked on new conduct and membership rules and participate in major policy initiatives, including in OATS and TRACE.

Ramsay also served for one year and seven months at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission as director of legislative and intergovernmental affairs.

He also previously served in the SEC as counsel to Commissioner Mary Schapiro and deputy chief counsel, Division of Trading and Markets from 1989 to 1994.

Professional affiliations

IEX Group