BlackRock Changes Up Public Policy Team

BlackRock has overhauled its U.S. public policy team, changing leadership and structure for the division that advocates for public policies beneficial to investors’ long-term interests.

A BlackRock spokesperson confirmed in an email this week that Samantha DeZur was promoted to head of U.S. public policy. The BlackRock U.S. public policy group is part of the global public policy group led by Joanna Cound.

“Under Samantha’s leadership, the U.S. team will be composed of two main pillars: (i) legislative policy and engagement, led by Bryan Wood; and (ii) regulatory policy and engagement, led by Ben Tecmire,” the spokesperson said via email. “In addition, we are growing Bryan and Ben’s teams to support our legislative and regulatory engagement at both the federal and state level.”

With DeZur’s promotion, managing director Kate Fulton “will transition to a new part-time role as senior policy advisor across both pillars and will report into Samantha,” the spokesperson added.

The public policy team “support[s] the creation of regulatory regimes that increase financial market transparency, protect investors, and facilitate responsible growth of capital markets, while preserving consumer choice and properly balancing benefits versus implementation costs,” BlackRock’s public policy website states.

DeZur was previously a managing director of the global public policy group. DeZur has worked at the firm since 2019 and held previous roles at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and CME Group, according to LinkedIn.

BlackRock also appointed Sarah Logan to the U.S. public policy team; she had been chief of staff to the head of external affairs.

“Sarah will cover sustainability and stewardship policy for the U.S.,” the spokesperson said.