FINRA Chooses Chief Economist and SVP

Sokobin will head FINRA’s Office of the Chief Economist, which will work closely with the Office of General Counsel and other departments to develop new rules, and analyze the costs and benefits of existing and potential rulemakings. Sokobin’s division will be responsible for gathering and analyzing data on securities firms and markets.

In 2011, Sokobin joined the Treasury Department as chief of analytical strategy in the office of financial research. Before joining the Treasury, Sokobin was acting director of the Division of Risk, Strategy, and Financial Innovation (Risk Fin) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He joined the SEC as a full-time staffer in 2000 and was named deputy chief economist in 2004. From 2008 to 2010, Sokobin served as director of the former Office of Risk Assessment.

Sokobin holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University. He was awarded a master’s degree in business administration in finance and a doctorate from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. Sokobin began his career as a member of the faculty of the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.

Sokobin currently is acting deputy director of research and analysis in the Office of Financial Research at the Treasury Department. He will report to Richard Ketchum, FINRA’s chairman and chief executive. Sokobin starts on May 20.