Bowden to join life insurer

Andrew Bowden, director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance and Inspections and Examinations (OCIE), will become general counsel of Jackson National Life at the end of the month.

It was revealed that Bowden was leaving the SEC earlier this month, at which time Marc Wyatt, one of the agency’s current private funds specialists, will become OCIE’s acting director. 

Lansing, Michigan-based Jackson offers annuities for retail investors and fixed income products for institutional investors. As general counsel, Bowden will replace Thomas Meyer, who is retiring after 30 years at the position.

“[Bowden’s] background, experience and leadership will be invaluable as Jackson continues to grow its retirement services businesses in North America,” said in a statement James Sopha, Jackson’s chief operating officer.

Bowden, who joined the SEC in 2011 and was named OCIE director in June 2013, is most well-known in the private equity space for spearheading a two-year exam initiative of newly-registered private fund advisers that began with his predecessor Carlo di Florio in 2012. The industry currently awaits an after-action report detailing the initiative’s findings.

Before joining the SEC, Bowden worked in private law practice, chiefly on legal, regulatory, and compliance issues involving broker-dealer activities. He spent 17 years at Legg Mason in a variety of legal, compliance, and senior business roles related to Legg Mason's broker-dealer and investment management businesses.