October 1, 2013

CFTC Announces Gretchen L. Lowe as Acting Director of Division of Enforcement

Washington, DC — Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Gary Gensler today announced Gretchen L. Lowe as Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement. Ms. Lowe, currently the Division’s Chief Counsel, has served the Commission in the Enforcement Division. Ms. Lowe will assume her new role upon the departure of the Division’s current director, David Meister, who will be departing in October.

“I am very pleased that such a talented attorney, not to mention fellow University of Pennsylvania alum, as Gretchen will take over as the head of our Enforcement team,” said CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler. “She has deep Enforcement experience and has been a real leader on the cases of most significance to our markets, including those related to the rigging of benchmark interest rates, such as LIBOR.”

“I am thrilled for the CFTC that my colleague Gretchen Lowe will be taking over for me upon my departure.  Having worked with her for nearly three years, I can attest to the fact that I am leaving the Division in the hands of a gifted attorney with superior judgment, who has the respect of the Staff, and who is strongly committed to executing the Enforcement mission,” said David Meister.

“I thank the Chairman for giving me this opportunity to serve with the talented and hard-working Enforcement staff,” said Ms. Lowe. “I look forward to continuing the excellent work of Enforcement to protect the public and the integrity of the markets."

During her tenure, Ms. Lowe has led many of the CFTC’s most complex enforcement actions, including the Commission’s recent actions against banks and other institutions for manipulation and false reporting of global benchmark interest rates, such as LIBOR, actions against energy companies for attempted manipulation and false reporting of natural gas price indices, and actions involving manipulative trading in the palladium and platinum futures markets.

Prior to her appointment as Chief Counsel, Ms. Lowe served the Enforcement Division as an Associate Director for over 11 years, overseeing the investigation and prosecution of numerous cases. Ms. Lowe also served as Counselor to the Director advising on programmatic legal and policy issues and was a senior trial attorney specializing in manipulation and trade practice cases.

Ms. Lowe began her legal career as a litigation associate at Piper & Marbury (now DLA Piper). Ms. Lowe graduated cum laude from the University of Rochester and obtained a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.

Last Updated: October 1, 2013