WASHINGTON — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has nominated Adrienne Harris, a former economic advisor to President Barack Obama, to head the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Harris would succeed former DFS Superintendent Linda Lacewell,
A former special assistant for economic policy to Obama at the White House National Economic Council, Harris has advised fintech firms among other companies and is now a professor at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. She is also a senior advisor at Brunswick, a business advisory firm. Her nomination was announced Tuesday.
In a statement, Harris said she would be “honored and humbled” to work in Hochul’s administration if confirmed by the state’s Senate.
"Under [Hochul’s] leadership, we will work together to ensure we have a robust and fair financial system, and an equitable economy,” she said. “New Yorkers deserve no less. I look forward to getting to work."
Before joining the Obama White House in 2015, Harris served as senior advisor to Mary Miller, the Treasury Department’s then-acting deputy secretary and undersecretary for domestic finance, and Sarah Bloom Raskin, who was also a deputy secretary at Treasury.
“There is no one better suited to help lead this state's economy forward” than Harris, Hochul said in a statement.
“With Adrienne Harris as our state's top financial regulator, New Yorkers can rest assured that this administration isn't simply focused on just protecting consumers, but on advancing an equitable economic recovery that seeks to lift up all citizens, not just the privileged few," she said.
Lacewell
An aide and advisor to the former New York governor, Lacewell worked with other Cuomo allies to develop a public relations strategy as allegations gained traction in the media, including by collecting signatures for a letter of support for the governor, according to a report released by the New York attorney general’s office.
