SIFMA Picks NYSE Exec as General Counsel

What You Need to Know

Saima Ahmed most recently was director of NYSE Regulation and deputy head of the Surveillance & Investigations group,
She replaces Ira Hammerman, who announced in January that he’d retire by year-end.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association said Wednesday that it has hired New York Stock Exchange exec Saima Ahmed as executive vice president and general counsel.

Ahmed, who most recently served as director of NYSE Regulation and deputy head of the Surveillance & Investigations group, will oversee SIFMA’s legal, compliance and litigation matters. She will be located in SIFMA’s New York office and will start in October.

Ahmed replaces Ira Hammerman, who announced in January that he’d retire by year-end. Hammerman has been general counsel for SIFMA since 2004.

Ahmed will lead a team of internal lawyers and collaborate with the larger SIFMA staff on key regulatory initiatives as well as oversee relationships with key regulators and outside counsel.

“We are excited to have Saima join SIFMA as our new general counsel,” said Ken Bensten, SIFMA’s president and CEO, in a statement. “Saima’s extensive experience as a litigator, regulator and manager will be a tremendous asset to SIFMA and our members, as well as a complement to our outstanding legal team. I also want to thank Ira Hammerman for his leadership and contributions over the past near two decades.”