NEW YORK — New York State Superintendent of Banks Diana L. Taylor will be joining the private investment and consulting firm Wolfensohn & Company, LLC as of March 15.

“Diana's experience in investment banking and her special knowledge of the banking, housing and energy sectors will be invaluable to the firm's clients,” James Wolfensohn, chairman of Wolfensohn, said. “In addition, I believe Diana's broad expertise will be a great asset to us in our private equity investment activities.”

“I am really looking forward to working with Jim and the other members of his firm,” Taylor said. “He has put together a wonderful, talented team, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.” She will be involved in the firm's consulting and advisory work as well as its private equity investment activities.

As Superintendent of Banks for New York State, Taylor served as the regulator for over 3,500 state chartered financial institutions, including credit unions, with assets totaling over $1.5 trillion. The department also regulates the mortgage industry, and money service businesses, such as check cashers and money transmitters.

Prior to 2003, Taylor was the governor's deputy secretary for finance and housing. She also worked for several years in the energy business, first as vice president of KeySpan Energy and then as chief financial officer of the Long Island Power Authority. She started her career as an investment banker with Smith Barney, then with Lehman Brothers and Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette. She was a founding partner of M. R. Beal & Co., a successful investment banking firm concentrating primarily in municipal bonds. She earned her AB at Dartmouth College, followed by her MBA and MPH at Columbia University.