The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Board of Governors has concluded its CEO search, and appointed Robert W. Cook as president and chief executive officer, effective the second half of 2016. Cook will succeed Richard Ketchum, who has served as Chairman and CEO since 2009. The Board intends to name a new chairman in the coming months.

Cook joins FINRA from the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, where he has served as a partner in its Washington, D.C., office since June 2013. While at Cleary Gottlieb, his work focused on the regulation of securities markets and market intermediaries, including broker-dealers, exchanges, alternative trading systems and clearing agencies.

Prior to joining Cleary Gottlieb, Cook served as the director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Trading and Markets from 2010 to 2013. He also directed the staff’s review of equity market structure and its analysis of the Flash Crash of May 6, 2010.