The Securities and Exchange Commission Historical Society’s Board of Trustees has named Washington D.C. policy veteran Jane Cobb as the Society’s Executive Director. 

Cobb will fill the post vacated by Carla Rosati, the Society's founding Executive Director. She is leaving the Society on March 31.

Cobb joins the Society from the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ), a nonprofit policy organization where she most recently served as senior director of public policy & strategic operations. Prior to the CAQ, Cobb spent five years as director of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“The Society and its programs will benefit greatly from Jane's keen understanding of the SEC, its mission, and history,” David Lynn, president of the Board of Trustees, said in a statement. “The Board is impressed by her experience, vision and entrepreneurial spirit, all of which will help the Society continue to evolve.”

"History to me is not a static phenomenon. It's important to understand what happened in the past, but also to bring it forward to reveal how and why it is relevant today and potentially tomorrow," Cobb said in a statement. “I am delighted to lead the Society, which has contributed so much to the understanding of our capital markets, their distinguished past, and ongoing role in the overall economic system.”

Before arriving at the SEC, Cobb was the Director of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at FEMA prior to and in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks. She served at FEMA after 12 years as professional committee staff and staff director in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Cobb earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees at Vanderbilt University

Carla Rosati has served as the Society’s Executive Director for 16 years.

“The Board expresses our sincere thanks and appreciation to Carla for her service and commitment to the Society,” Lynn said. “She leaves behind a powerful legacy, most notably the Society’s innovative virtual museum and archive, which serves as the preeminent source for original information and material on the regulation of the capital markets from the 20th century to the present. We wish Carla well in her future endeavors and look forward to building on the strong foundation she has put in place.”

Founded in 2001, the Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, independent of and separate from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The virtual museum and archive is built and exhibited independent of any SEC oversight.

The SEC Historical Society is funded solely by gifts and grants from the private sector, and receives no government funding. The Society's Annual Report includes audited financial statements, narrative of activities, and list of donors for its fiscal year of Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.

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