Press Release: Chief Economist Chester Spatt to Leave SEC
Chester Spatt, the SEC’s Chief Economist, voluntarily left the agency after three years to return to academia at Carnegie Mellon University, with no allegations of fraud, misconduct, or financial penalties—his tenure was praised for strengthening economic analysis in securities regulation.
Chester Spatt, the SEC’s Chief Economist, departed the agency in July 2007 to resume his academic role at Carnegie Mellon University after three years of service. He led economic analysis on key regulatory issues including mutual fund market timing, executive compensation, Regulation SHO, and credit rating agencies, with no allegations of fraud or misconduct. SEC Chairman Christopher Cox commended his leadership and contributions to integrating rigorous economic reasoning into the Commission’s rulemaking process.
Chester Spatt, the SEC’s Chief Economist, voluntarily left the agency at the end of July 2007 to return to Carnegie Mellon University, where he serves as Mellon Bank Professor of Finance and Director of the Center for Financial Markets. During his three-year tenure at the SEC, he led the Office of Economic Analysis in evaluating critical issues such as mutual fund market timing, late trading, option backdating, executive compensation, Regulation SHO, shareholder voting, and credit rating agencies. His work emphasized the integration of economic analysis into regulatory decision-making, and he strengthened ties between the SEC and the academic community. SEC Chairman Christopher Cox praised Spatt’s exceptional expertise, judgment, and leadership, noting his invaluable contributions to investor protection and market efficiency. Spatt was also a founding figure in the Review of Financial Studies and a past president of major financial economics associations. There is no mention of fraud, misconduct, financial penalties, or regulatory violations in the announcement—this was a routine and positive personnel transition. His departure was framed as a return to academia, not a resignation under scrutiny, and his legacy at the SEC is one of intellectual leadership and institutional collaboration.
Extracted insights
- person carnegie mellon university
- agency chester graciously agreed to extend his service to the sec
- person chester spatt
- person its second executive editor
- agency sec chairman christopher cox
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- Chester Spatt to Leave SEC
- Chester Spatt will rejoin Carnegie Mellon University
- Chester Spatt serves as Mellon Bank Professor of Finance
- Chester Spatt serves as Director of the Center for Financial Markets
- Chester Spatt led the staff's economic analysis
- Chester Spatt focused on fostering stronger ties between the Commission and the academic community
- SEC Chairman Christopher Cox said Chester graciously agreed to extend his service to the SEC
- Chester Spatt has held academic positions at Carnegie Mellon
- Chester Spatt was one of the founders of the Review of Financial Studies
- Chester Spatt served as its second Executive Editor
- Chester Spatt is a Past President of both the Western Finance Association
- Chester Spatt received his Ph.D. and Master's degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania
- Chester Spatt received his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Princeton University
Chief Economist Chester Spatt to Leave SEC FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2007-136 Washington, D.C., July 19, 2007 - The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that Chester Spatt, Chief Economist and Director of the Office of Economic Analysis (OEA), will leave the agency to return to academia at the end of July. Dr. Spatt will rejoin Carnegie Mellon University, where he serves as Mellon Bank Professor of Finance and Director of the Center for Financial Markets at the Tepper School of Business. His research and teaching there will focus upon economic issues related to securities regulation as well as asset allocation and taxes. During his three years at the Commission, Dr. Spatt led the staff's economic analysis of key issues including implementation of options expensing through models and markets, mutual fund market timing and late trading, option grant and exercise backdating, executive compensation, Regulation SHO, shareholder voting, credit rating agencies and NRSROs, foreign private issuer deregistration and the economics of penalties and sanctions. In addition, he focused on fostering stronger ties between the Commission and the academic community, encouraging greater participation from academic experts in the rulemaking process. SEC Chairman Christopher Cox said, "After completing his initial term with the Commission on leave from Carnegie Mellon during 2006, Chester graciously agreed to extend his service to the SEC and the nation's investors for another year. His exceptional background, expertise and judgment concerning the economic underpinnings of our securities markets have been invaluable resources to the Commission. He has been a strong leader of a very talented staff, and all of us at the Commission are deeply indebted to him for his personal and professional contributions to the nation's markets and investors." Dr. Spatt said, "I appreciate the opportunity to have led OEA and its talented and dedicated staff for the past three years. Economics plays such a crucial role in the development of strong, efficient and fair capital markets, so I have tried to focus upon the importance of economics in the regulatory process. I know that with strong leadership from Chairman Cox, the Commission will continue to incorporate economic reasoning in its actions to the benefit of investors and markets." Dr. Spatt has held academic positions at Carnegie Mellon since 1979, along with visiting professorships at Toulouse University, University of British Columbia and Princeton University. He was one of the founders of the Review of Financial Studies, considered among the leading journals in financial economics, and served as its second Executive Editor. He also is a Past President of both the Western Finance Association and the Society for Financial Studies. He received his Ph.D. and Master's degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Princeton University. http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2007/2007-136.htm Home | Previous Page Modified: 07/19/2007
Chief Economist Chester Spatt to Leave SEC FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2007-136 Washington, D.C., July 19, 2007 - The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that Chester Spatt, Chief Economist and Director of the Office of Economic Analysis (OEA), will leave the agency to return to academia at the end of July. Dr. Spatt will rejoin Carnegie Mellon University, where he serves as Mellon Bank Professor of Finance and Director of the Center for Financial Markets at the Tepper School of Business. His research and teaching there will focus upon economic issues related to securities regulation as well as asset allocation and taxes. During his three years at the Commission, Dr. Spatt led the staff's economic analysis of key issues including implementation of options expensing through models and markets, mutual fund market timing and late trading, option grant and exercise backdating, executive compensation, Regulation SHO, shareholder voting, credit rating agencies and NRSROs, foreign private issuer deregistration and the economics of penalties and sanctions. In addition, he focused on fostering stronger ties between the Commission and the academic community, encouraging greater participation from academic experts in the rulemaking process. SEC Chairman Christopher Cox said, "After completing his initial term with the Commission on leave from Carnegie Mellon during 2006, Chester graciously agreed to extend his service to the SEC and the nation's investors for another year. His exceptional background, expertise and judgment concerning the economic underpinnings of our securities markets have been invaluable resources to the Commission. He has been a strong leader of a very talented staff, and all of us at the Commission are deeply indebted to him for his personal and professional contributions to the nation's markets and investors." Dr. Spatt said, "I appreciate the opportunity to have led OEA and its talented and dedicated staff for the past three years. Economics plays such a crucial role in the development of strong, efficient and fair capital markets, so I have tried to focus upon the importance of economics in the regulatory process. I know that with strong leadership from Chairman Cox, the Commission will continue to incorporate economic reasoning in its actions to the benefit of investors and markets." Dr. Spatt has held academic positions at Carnegie Mellon since 1979, along with visiting professorships at Toulouse University, University of British Columbia and Princeton University. He was one of the founders of the Review of Financial Studies, considered among the leading journals in financial economics, and served as its second Executive Editor. He also is a Past President of both the Western Finance Association and the Society for Financial Studies. He received his Ph.D. and Master's degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Princeton University. http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2007/2007-136.htm Home | Previous Page Modified: 07/19/2007