Release #4326-99

For Release: October 19, 1999

CFTC Announces Appointment of John C. Lawton as Acting Director of the

Division of Trading and Markets

WASHINGTON -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced the appointment of John C. Lawton as Acting Director, the Division of Trading and Markets, effective October 4, 1999. Lawton served as the Division's Deputy Director, Audit and Review Section since 1998 and previously, from 1988 to 1998, had been Associate Director of the Division.

Mr. Lawton received his J.D. degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1979, and his B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Lawton also was an attorney with Donelan, Cleary, Wood & Maser, Washington, D.C., from 1979-80.

The Trading and Markets Division develops, implements, and interprets regulations promulgated under the Commodity Exchange Act; oversees the compliance activities of the futures industry self-regulation organizations, which include the U.S. commodity exchanges, their clearinghouses, and the National Futures Association; conducts trade practice surveillance; performs financial compliance audits of registrants; and, oversees the registration of industry professionals, among other activities.

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