Release: 5381-07

For Release: September 12, 2007

CFTC Announces the Appointment of Jeff Harris as Chief Economist

Washington, DC – The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced today the appointment of Dr. Jeff Harris as the Chief Economist. Dr. Harris had been serving as a Consultant at the CFTC since 2006. The Office of the Chief Economist is an independent office with responsibility for providing expert economic advice to the Commission. Its functions include policy analysis, economic research, expert testimony, education and training.

“I am pleased to announce Jeff’s new role at the CFTC. He has previously worked with the agency as a consultant and we are thrilled to have his expertise full time as the Chief Economist,” said CFTC Acting Chairman Walter Lukken. “The CFTC is evaluating a number of important economic issues in the futures industry and as one of the nation's leading derivatives economists, Jeff’s counsel will prove invaluable.”

Dr. Harris joins the CFTC from the University of Delaware where he is a Professor of Finance at the Lerner College of Business and Economics. Prior to teaching investments and derivatives at Delaware, he held faculty appointments at the University of Notre Dame and The Ohio State University. He has previously served as Visiting Academic Fellow at the NASDAQ Stock Market and as Visiting Academic Scholar at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Raised in Wisconsin, Dr. Harris received his Bachelor of Arts in Physics from the University of Iowa in 1986, a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Iowa in 1987 and a Ph.D. in Finance from The Ohio State University in 1995.

Media Contacts
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R. David Gary
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Last Updated: September 12, 2007