SIFMA Chair Blythe Masters of J.P. Morgan Chase Names 5 Top Priorities for 2008

At SIFMA's Annual Meeting in Boca Raton, FL (November 7-9), Blythe Masters, Head of Global Commodities at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. was elected Chair of SIFMA. In her first address to the SIFMA membership as Chair, Ms. Masters named the top 5 SIFMA priorities for 2008:

1) leveling the playing field for all professionals who deal with the investing public
2) standardizing the rules governing retail products
3) facilitating the open, competitive, effective functioning of efficient global capital markets
4) informing the process of public policy in order to ensure that future fiscal plans will do what they're meant to do in terms of hastening growth in our economy and our financial markets, and benefiting our clients
5) restoring investor confidence in the markets, which will include opining on valuation practices.

Click here to read full speech

In her closing remarks at the Annual Meeting, Blythe Masters also recognized the growth of the Asset Management Group and set engaging more asset managers and hedge funds as members as an AMG SIFMA goal.

John R. Gidman of Loomis Sayles Elected Treasurer of SIFMA

AMG Chair Emeritus, John Gidman of Loomis Sayles was re-elected for a 3-year term to serve on SIFMA's Board of Directors. Mr. Gidman will serve as the Treasurer of SIFMA in 2008. The Asset Management Group congratulates John Gidman in his new role.

David Murphy of Fidelity Investments Elected Chair of the AMG; Richard Weil of PIMCO Elected Vice Chair

At the Quarterly Business Meeting of the Asset Management Group (during the SIFMA Annual Meeting), David Murphy of Fidelity Investments and Richard Weil of PIMCO were elected to serve as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of the AMG in 2008. At the meeting, John Gidman of Loomis Sayles was recognized and thanked by the Steering Committee for his leadership and service to the AMG, as it grew to become a division within The Bond Market Association and now, one of the three business groups of SIFMA. John Gidman will continue to serve on the Steering Committee of AMG as Chair Emeritus.

Important Publications:
SIFMA Update
Washington Weekly
Weekly Report of the American Securitization Forum
SIFMA SmartBrief (past five issues)