You've been CFTC chairman since 11 July last year. What are your observations about the job and commission so far?
CFTC has a very important mission of maintaining the integrity of the futures markets. Looking around CFTC, I've been extraordinarily impressed by the calibre of the people who devoted most of their careers to working in this industry at the commission. We have a superb professional staff with cumulative and institutional knowledge. Finally, there is no shortage of interesting and complex issues.
Why did you want to be chairman of the CFTC?
When the White House asked it was certainly an honour and a privilege. CFTC is a great place for me because it draws on experience I had working in financial markets as an investment banker, specialising in the financial services sector. That said, I'm on a very steep learning curve as it relates to many of the technical...