NCUA Board Chairman Debbie Matz announced the selection of Gail Laster, an attorney who helped draft the Dodd-Frank Act, to replace the retiring Kent Buckham as director of the Office of Consumer Protection.
Buckham will retire at the end of this year; Laster will come on board with the NCUA Nov. 19.
Laster has spent the last five years as deputy chief counsel for the House Financial Services Committee. She is a graduate of the New York University School of Law and earned an undergraduate degree from Yale University.
Prior to her position with the Financial Services Committee, Laster served as general counsel to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as director of governmental relations for the Legal Services Corporation, and as counsel to both the Senate Judiciary and Labor and Human Resources committees.
“Gail’s extensive background in consumer protection, community development and financial services makes her an ideal choice as the next director of our Office of Consumer Protection,” Matz said. “She’s an expert in policy, understands how to work with an array of constituencies, and brings the kind of consumer-focused approach that is central to our mission.”
Matz also lauded Buckham, saying, “We will miss Kent’s dedication to the NCUA’s mission, willingness to undertake challenging assignments and positive outlook.”
Buckham was selected as the NCUA’s first director of the OCP in November 2009.
