Refinitiv names William Leahey head, regulatory compliance, wealth management

In this role Mr. Leahey will lead all regulatory activities for the wealth management business with a focus on identifying key regulatory developments, risks, and initiatives for customers. This will include advocacy related to proposed rules, guidance around and implementation of approved rules, and regulatory issues management.
Mr. Leahey’s appointment comes at a time when wealth management firms and their advisors need clear and transparent insight into global, regional and national regulations that impact their operations and interactions with clients. A dedicated focus on ongoing regulatory engagement will support Refinitiv’s role as an essential partner to the global wealth management industry.
Refinitiv’s wealth management business supports a significant number of established and emerging wealth customers providing global, regional and emerging market wealth platforms across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Mr. Leahey joins a team of compliance and regulatory professionals at the corporate and business levels across Refinitiv dedicated to helping customer segments tackle key regulatory challenges in order to thrive. Mr. Leahey will engage with regulatory bodies, customers, industry groups, key partners and industry leaders to stay ahead of regulatory change and ensure that regulators hear the voices of Refinitiv’s customers in making rules and providing regulatory guidance.
“As the wealth management industry faces ongoing regulatory hurdles, Refinitiv remains committed to providing customers with the regulatory insight needed,” said Joseph Mrak, global head of Wealth Management, Refinitiv. “We welcome Will Leahey to Refinitiv. His industry experience will help us to provide our customers with the regulatory perspective needed to navigate today’s rapidly changing wealth management industry.”
Mr. Leahey’s focus areas encompass the intersection of technology, operations, and regulation, with a concentration on middle and back office clearance and settlement infrastructure gained from leading major industry initiatives, including shortening the securities settlement cycle. Mr. Leahey brings a fundamental understanding of the systems, data, and technology mosaic that undergirds the financial services industry.
“I am excited to join Refinitiv at an important moment in the regulation of financial markets,” said William Leahey. “As new technologies evolve to enhance the manner in which the financial industry meets the needs of investors, regulation continues to change and evolve simultaneously. I am looking forward to assisting Refinitiv’s wealth management customers in understanding and preparing for the regulatory landscape ahead.”
Prior to joining Refinitiv, Mr. Leahey was vice president and assistant general counsel of the Operations and Technology Group at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). Prior to joining SIFMA, Mr. Leahey spent five years in the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA’s) Market Regulation Department developing and implementing high yield market surveillance tools and managing FINRA’s coverage of NYSE Rules. Prior to FINRA, Mr. Leahey was an attorney in the Policies and Procedures Group of Bear Stearns. Mr. Leahey is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School, and a member of the New York State Bar. He graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Albany with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics.
Refinitiv wealth management solutions provide seamless integration across front, middle, and back office workflows that enable better informed decisions, timely communication, and relevant insights. Refinitiv’s best of breed solutions (the new Refinitiv Wealth Advisor powered by the Eikon platform, and Thomson ONE in the US) deliver the tools and solutions to give advisors the power to be more informed, more efficient, and more engaged with their investor clients. Refinitiv Digital Solutions, industry-leading data, and APIs help transform how advisors and investors digitally engage with their investments and practice in a modern, digital experience, critically removing the enterprise data challenge customers face today.