July 16, 2013

CFTC Names Christopher Ehrman as Director of Whistleblower Office

Washington, DC – Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Gary Gensler today announced that Christopher Ehrman has been named as the new director of the CFTC’s Whistleblower Office.

“I am pleased that Chris is joining us as the new head of our Whistleblower Office,” said Chairman Gensler. “Chris, who comes to us after many years of experience in the SEC’s Enforcement Division, takes on an important role at the Commission to oversee our Whistleblower program and engage with people who report misconduct in the futures and swaps markets.”

The Whistleblower Office, created by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, operates a program through which the Commission may reward individuals who voluntarily provide original information about violations of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Mr. Ehrman said, “I am excited about this wonderful opportunity at the CFTC. As our financial markets grow increasingly complex, it is vital to have a process in place to ensure that people with important information about potential violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, risks to the marketplace, and risks to its participants can come forward with that information. The Whistleblower Office is committed to providing people with the support they need to come forward, be heard and be protected.”

Mr. Ehrman joins the CFTC from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he most recently served as an Assistant Director in the Office of Market Intelligence (OMI) in the Division of Enforcement. In this role, he oversaw the processing, review and assignment of all tips, complaints and referrals received by the SEC, and undertook a wide variety of speaking engagements relative to securities regulation and the work of the OMI. Mr. Ehrman also served as the Co-National Coordinator for the Microcap Fraud Working Group, a cross-divisional specialized group charged with creating novel ways to detect, disrupt and prosecute fraud relating to securities quoted on the OTC Market.

Mr. Ehrman also previously served in a variety of other roles within the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, including Branch Chief, Senior Counsel, and Staff Attorney, and prior to joining the Federal Government spent six years in private legal practice covering securities-related matters. Mr. Ehrman is a graduate of Miami University and the University of Kentucky College of Law.

The Whistleblower program is governed by the Commission’s rules, which prospective whistleblowers should review to understand the requirements of the program, including how to submit a tip, how to maintain eligibility, and how to claim an award.

Whistleblower tip or complaint submissions can be made by visiting program’s webpage. Submissions can also be made by mail or fax to: Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Whistleblower Office, 1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20581, Fax: (202) 418-5975.

Last Updated: July 16, 2013