The Securities and Exchange Commission named George S. Canellos as its new Deputy Director of the Enforcement Division Monday.

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George Canellos

Canellos, 47, has served as director of the commission’s New York regional office since July 2009. He is also a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he was chief of the Major Crimes Unit and also worked on securities and commodities fraud. He will begin his new post June 4.

“I’m extremely excited to have this opportunity to serve the national enforcement program and to work with colleagues throughout the country who have contributed so much to the recent successes of the SEC’s enforcement efforts,” Canellos said in a statement ^[2].

“Everyone interested in the fair, thoughtful and vigorous enforcement of the federal securities laws will be thrilled with the appointment of George Canellos as Deputy Director of the Division of Enforcement,” Director Robert S. Khuzami said in the statement. “He is known to all as possessing a keen and uniquely probing intellect, an innovative approach to problem solving and a deep commitment to prosecuting wrongdoers and protecting the public.”

Canellos will be replaced in New York by Andrew Calamari, who will serve as acting director.  Calamari is currently senior associate regional director of the New York office.

Canellos is a graduate of Harvard College and Columbia University School of Law.