Walter Joseph Clayton

Mr. Clayton served as the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) between 2017 and 2020 and is currently a Senior Policy Advisor and Of Counsel at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.

As the 32nd Chairman of the SEC, Mr. Clayton focused on modernizing the regulation and oversight of financial markets to enhance transparency for individual investors and access to capital for businesses, and adapting to advances in technology. During his tenure as Chairman, he also was a member of the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, the Financial Stability Board, the International Organization of Securities Commissions, and the Financial Stability Oversight Council.

Prior to his government service, Mr. Clayton spent over 20 years at Sullivan & Cromwell, where he was a member of the management committee, co-managing partner of the General Practice Group, and co-head of the Cybersecurity Group. He specialized in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets offerings, and other transactions, while also serving as an adviser to numerous companies on legal and regulatory matters. He rejoined the firm in 2021 in his current role as Senior Policy Advisor and Of Counsel and is focused on advising corporations and public institutions on governance, markets, and regulatory matters.

Mr. Clayton also serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Apollo Global Management Inc. He also is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee.

Mr. Clayton received a B.S. in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Cambridge, and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.