The Securities and Exchange Commission has named Christopher R. Hetner as senior adviser to the chair for cybersecurity policy, a newly created position.
Hetner, the current cybersecurity lead for the Technology Control Program within the SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, will serve as a senior adviser to SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White on all cybersecurity policy matters.
His duties will include coordinating efforts across the agency to address cybersecurity policy, engaging with external stakeholders, and further enhancing the SEC's mechanisms for assessing broad-based market risk.
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"Cyberattacks are a constant threat to our markets," White said in a statement. "With the cyber field steadily evolving and expanding, it is imperative we continue to enhance our coordinated approach to cybersecurity policy across the SEC and engage at the highest levels with market participants and governmental bodies concerning the latest developments in this area. We are very fortunate that Chris will take on this important role where he will apply his expertise and decades of experience in information security."
Hetner, who has more than 20 years in information security and technology, joined the SEC from Ernst and Young where, from November 2012 to January 2015, he led the Wealth and Asset Management Sector Cybersecurity practice.
Prior to joining EY, he was the chief information security officer at GE Capital, where he was responsible for the global cybersecurity program. Before GE Capital, he implemented information security and regulatory compliance programs for Citigroup's Institutional Client Group global business and technology units.
Hetner holds industry-leading certifications including the Certified Information Systems Security Professional, National Security Agency Information Security Assessment Certification and Certified Information Security Manager.
He earned a M.S. in information assurance from Norwich University and a B.S. in security management from The City University of New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
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Melanie Waddell
Melanie is senior editor and Washington bureau chief of ThinkAdvisor. Her ThinkAdvisor coverage zeros in on how politics, policy, legislation and regulations affect the investment advisory space. Melanie’s coverage has been cited in various lawmakers’ reports, letters and bills, and in the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule in 2024. In 2019, Melanie received an Honorable Mention, Range of Work by a Single Author award from @Folio. Melanie joined Investment Advisor magazine as New York bureau chief in 2000. She has been a columnist since 2002. She started her career in Washington in 1994, covering financial issues at American Banker. Since 1997, Melanie has been covering investment-related issues, holding senior editorial positions at American Banker publications in both Washington and New York. Briefly, she was content chief for Internet Capital Group’s EFinancialWorld in New York and wrote freelance articles for Institutional Investor. Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Towson University. She interned at The Baltimore Sun and its suburban edition.
