Gary Gensler

Gary Gensler was sworn in as the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on May 26, 2009. Gensler previously served at the U.S. Department of the Treasury as under secretary of Domestic Finance (1999-2001) and as assistant secretary of Financial Markets (1997-1999). He subsequently served as a senior adviser to the chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, Senator Paul Sarbanes, on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reforming corporate responsibility, accounting and securities laws.

As under secretary of the Treasury, Gensler was the principal adviser to Treasury secretary Robert Rubin and later to secretary Lawrence Summers on all aspects of domestic finance. The office was responsible for formulating policy and legislation in the areas of U.S. financial markets, public debt management, the banking system, financial services, fiscal affairs, federal lending, Government Sponsored Enterprises, and community development. In recognition of this service, he was awarded Treasury’s highest honor, the Alexander Hamilton Award.

Prior to joining Treasury, Gensler worked for 18 years at Goldman Sachs, where he was selected as a partner. In his last role, he was co-head of finance.

Gensler is the co-author of a book, "The Great Mutual Fund Trap," which presents common sense investment advice for middle-income Americans.

He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in 1978, with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. He went on to receive a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School's graduate division in 1979.

Gensler lives with his three daughters outside of Baltimore, Maryland.