Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet have appointed Tom Grady of Naples as Commissioner of the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Since 1982, Grady has practiced law with Grady and Associates, focusing on the areas of securities, investment advisor and financial industry regulation, litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has been active in securities organizations aimed at educating and safeguarding the public and raising the standards of professionalism within the brokerage industries.
Since 1992, Grady has served as a broker/dealer training instructor for the American Arbitration Association, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the American Stock Exchange, the National Association Securities Dealers, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation Arbitrator Training programs.
“I can think of no better person to serve as Florida’s Financial Regulation Commissioner. Tom has been centrally involved with the finance and banking industry for nearly three decades and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this post,” said Gov. Scott. “In addition, he has demonstrated a high standard of integrity in all he has done and holds a deep commitment to serving the people of Florida.”
Serving as a public member of the Securities Industry Conference on Arbitration organized by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) from 1995-2002, Grady has been a public member emeritus since 2003. He is also a public member emeritus the American Arbitration Association’s Securities Industry Advisory Committee. He is a former member of the advisory committee to the NASAA Disclosure Reform Committee.
“Tom is an excellent choice to lead the Office of Financial Regulation. He has a wealth of experience in financial services, especially in the fields of securities and mortgage banking,” said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. “I am looking forward to working with Tom to help capital flow freely in our state and combat the financial fraud that suffocates economic growth.”
Grady served in the Florida House of Representatives representing a portion of Collier County. As a state representative, he successfully sponsored legislation in the areas of securities regulation and international banking and finance. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his law degree from Duke University.
“Tom served our state well as a great member of the Legislature and assisted the Attorney General’s Office in increasing our securities enforcement authority,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “His background and knowledge in banking and securities will help the Office of Financial Regulation protect consumers while balancing the needs of the business and financial community.”
