Paul S. Atkins | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2025 | |
34th Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission | |
Assumed office April 21, 2025 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Mark Uyeda (acting) |
Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | |
Assumed office April 21,2025 | |
Appointed by | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Gary Gensler |
In office August 8,2002 –August 1,2008 | |
Appointed by | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Laura Unger |
Succeeded by | Troy A. Paredes |
Personal details | |
Born | |
Political party | Republican |
Education | Wofford College (BA) Vanderbilt University (JD) |
Paul S. Atkins is an American businessman who has served as chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since April 2025. [1] Atkins also previously served as a commissioner at the SEC from 2002 to 2008. [2] Known for advocating reduced regulatory burdens and promoting financial innovation,Atkins has been a vocal supporter of free-market principles in regulatory policy. [3] [4]
Originally from Lillington,North Carolina,Atkins grew up in Tampa,Florida. [5] He received his A.B. from Wofford College in 1980 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa [6] and Kappa Alpha Order.
Atkins received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1983 and was Senior Student Writing Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. [5]
Atkins began his career as a lawyer in New York City with Davis Polk &Wardwell,focusing on a wide range of corporate transactions for U.S. and foreign clients,including public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. He worked in the Paris office for two and a half years,and in 1988 was admitted to provide legal advice in France. [6]
Atkins was a commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from July 9,2002 until his term's completion in August 2008. [5] He served with chairmen Harvey Pitt,William H. Donaldson,and Christopher Cox. [7]
In 2009,Atkins founded Patomak Global Partners,a financial services firm specializing in regulatory compliance and whose clients would come to include Fidelity Investments,Goldman Sachs,and the US Chamber of Commerce. [8]
In December 2016,Atkins joined a business forum assembled by President-elect Trump to provide strategic and policy advice on economic issues. [9]
Atkins was co-chair of the Token Alliance,a cryptocurrency advocacy group for the Chamber of Digital Commerce. [2] He also served on the advisory board of Securitize,Inc.,a cryptocurrency firm. [8]
In December 2024,Atkins was nominated by President-elect Trump to be chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He was sworn in on April 21,2025. [1]
In July 2025,Atkins sold his stake in Patomak Global Partners to an undisclosed buyer for between $25 million and $50 million. [8]
In September 2025,Atkins affirmed plans to reduce reporting requirements for public companies in the United States,changing reporting timelines from quarterly to every six months. [10]
Atkins has three sons with his wife Sarah Humphreys Atkins, [5] [11] who is a major Republican donor. [12] As of 2025,their combined net worth is estimated to be $327 million. [8]