Christopher Giancarlo, the Acting Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC ), the federal financial regulator charged with overseeing the trading of futures and options in the United States, has appointed N. Charles “Charlie” Thornton III to fill the position of the agency’s Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs.
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Mr. Thornton joins the CFTC’s legislative office after having served as senior counsel to the Senate Agriculture Committee for nearly three years. Most recently, he was the policy staffer responsible for executing the objectives of the chairman and the committee involving its jurisdiction over the derivatives markets. In this role, he served as lead staff negotiator in legislative efforts to reauthorize the CFTC and the committee’s oversight role over the agency and its policies.
Earlier in his career, Thornton worked as a Counsel for Delta Strategy Group focusing on the derivatives markets and CFTC rulemakings and guidance, as well as derivatives related legislation.
Mr. Thornton received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and his law degree from Mississippi College School of Law.
Announcing the appointment, the CFTC’s Acting Chairman Giancarlo said: “Charlie brings significant experience from Capitol Hill to his relationships with market participants and self-regulatory organizations that make him well suited to serve as an advisor as well as an intergovernmental liaison. I look forward to working with Charlie and to provide the CFTC with a forceful advocate on Capitol Hill.”
Mr. Thornton commented: “I greatly appreciate the honor that Acting Chairman Giancarlo and the Commission have given me to serve as the Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs. It is crucial that the CFTC maintain and build upon the invaluable relationships it has with Congress, the Administration, and other independent agencies as well as other regulatory and governmental bodies. I intend to make it my duty to assist in any way possible to ensure that the Commission is well regarded as a 21st century financial regulator.”
