The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that Mike Rufino will become Head of Member Regulation – Sales Practice, and Bill Wollman will become Head of Member Regulation – Risk Oversight and Operational Regulation (ROOR).
Rufino and Wollman will report to Susan Axelrod, FINRA's Executive Vice President of Regulatory Operations.
"Mike and Bill are experts in their regulatory fields, and their consistent good judgment and strong leadership will enhance FINRA's ability to protect investors and ensure market integrity. Their vast regulatory experience and leadership in the evolution of our exam programs over the years will allow them to guide the sales practice and financial operational programs as they continue to evolve into more risk-focused, effective and efficient programs," said Susan Axelrod.
Rufino began his career with the NYSE in 1988 and led the Sales Practice Regulatory Unit prior to the NYSE's merger with FINRA in 2007. FINRA's Sales Practice program encompasses FINRA's 15 district offices and is responsible for ongoing surveillance and examinations, both routine and investigative, of FINRA-regulated securities firms across the country. Mr. Rufino graduated magna cum laude from Iona College with a degree in finance. In addition, he received his M.B.A. with honors in management information systems from Iona.
Wollman joined the NYSE in 1989, and in 2001 was appointed to lead one of the financial oversight departments that examined NYSE members for compliance with financial and operational rules. Earlier this year, he was appointed as the Deputy in Member Regulation – ROOR. ROOR is responsible for the ongoing surveillance and annual examinations of firms for financial and operational compliance. Wollman earned his bachelor's degree from Manhattan College with a degree in finance.
FINRA is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. FINRA is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through effective and efficient regulation and complementary compliance and technology-based services. FINRA touches virtually every aspect of the securities business – from registering and educating all industry participants to examining securities firms, writing rules, enforcing those rules and the federal securities laws, informing and educating the investing public, providing trade reporting and other industry utilities, and administering the largest dispute resolution forum for investors and firms. For more information, please visit www.finra.org.
