FTC Acting Chair Rebecca Kelly Slaughter Announces Interim Leadership Appointments

Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, designated Acting Chair of the Federal Trade Commission by President Joseph R. Biden on January 21, today unveiled a number of interim leadership changes.

“I am enormously grateful to these talented members of the FTC team for being willing to offer their services as we work through this transition period,” said Acting Chair Slaughter.

The interim appointments are:

Reilly Dolan, Acting General Counsel.  Dolan has been Principal Deputy General Counsel since 2018.  Prior to joining the Office of General Counsel, Reilly briefly served as Acting Director for the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) in spring 2018 and as Deputy Director for three years.  Previously he was the Associate Director for Financial Practices, and also has served as an Assistant Director in the Divisions of Financial Practices and Enforcement. Dolan joined the FTC in 1991. He received his Bachelor in Political Science from the University of Colorado and graduated from the George Washington University Law School with honors.

Daniel Kaufman, Acting Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection beginning January 30.  Kaufman joined the Commission in 1998 and has been Deputy Director of BCP since 2012.  He has held numerous additional positions during his Commission career, including Attorney Advisor to former Chairman Majoras, BCP Chief of Staff, and Acting Director of the Southeast Regional Office. Kaufman received his Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Maribeth Petrizzi, Acting Director of the Bureau of Competition following a brief transition period.  Ian Conner, the Director of the Bureau of Competition (BC), graciously agreed to delay his departure from the agency to facilitate this transition and ensure continuity as Petrizzi moves into the Acting Directorship.  She has been Assistant Director of BC’s Compliance Division since August 2019.  Prior to this role, Petrizzi held several positions at the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division since 1998, including Chief of the Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section and the Assistant Chief of DIA.  She received her BBA from Adelphi University and is a 1990 graduate of Boston College Law School.

Michael G. Vita has been serving as the Acting Director of the Bureau of Economics and has agreed to continue.  Vita joined the FTC in 1984 as an economist and served as Deputy Assistant Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Economics before being named Deputy Director in 2014. He received his master’s and doctorate degrees in economics from the University of Wisconsin and his bachelor’s degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University.

Sarah Mackey, Acting Director of the Office of Policy & Planning beginning January 30.  Mackey joined the FTC in 2002 and most recently served as Deputy Director of the Office of Policy Planning. While at the FTC she has worked in numerous positions including Chief of Staff under Chairman William E. Kovacic, attorney advisor, and within the Office of General Counsel.  Mackey graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law with high honors and graduated with a BA from the University of the South.

“I want to thank Alden Abbott, Andrew Smith, Ian Conner, Andrew Sweeting, and Bilal Sayyed for their leadership and contributions to the agency during their tenure and wish them well in their next endeavors,” Slaughter stated. “I am also appreciative that Reilly, Daniel, Maribeth, Mike, and Sarah have agreed to quickly jump in to serve.”