December 21, 2010

CFTC Announces the Appointment of Andrei Kirilenko as Chief Economist

Washington, DC – The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced the appointment of Dr. Andrei Kirilenko as the CFTC’s Chief Economist. The Office of the Chief Economist is responsible for providing expert economic advice to the Commission. Its functions include policy analysis, economic research, expert testimony, education and training.

In announcing the appointment, CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler said, “Andrei’s in-depth understanding and appreciation of the many important economic issues facing the Commission and the futures and swaps markets will prove invaluable. I am very pleased that he has accepted this appointment. I look forward to continuing to work closely with him to ensure market integrity and protect the American public.”

Dr. Kirilenko has been with the CFTC since 2008. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, where he specialized in Finance. His research has focused on the informational properties and the microstructure of financial markets. His scholarly work has appeared in a number of peer refereed journals, including the Journal of Finance, the Journal of Financial Markets and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Papers. Prior to joining the CFTC, he spent 12 years at the IMF working on global capital markets issues.

During his tenure at the CFTC, Dr. Kirilenko has worked on a broad range of issues related to the design and operations of agricultural, energy and financial contracts and markets. Most recently, Dr. Kirilenko has been working on issues related to algorithmic and high frequency trading and played a key role in the review of the unusual market events of May 6, 2010. In recognition of his service, Dr. Kirilenko was awarded the CFTC’s highest honor, the Chairman’s Award for Excellence, in 2010.

Last Updated: December 21, 2010