Herbert Smith's former Asia practice head Ashley Alder has been re-appointed as chief executive officer of Hong Kong's securities regulator, the Securities & Futures Commission (SFC), for another three-year term.

Hong Kong's financial secretary John Tsang announced yesterday that Alder would be re-appointed to the top job from October 1, having "maintained the market's integrity with continuous regulatory updates and effective enforcement."

Alder took up the post in 2011 at a time when the regulatory watchdog was increasing its scrutiny of banks and Hong Kong listed companies.

He replaced former London Stock Exchange deputy head Martin Wheatley, who had been in the job for six years, joining the SFC in 2005.

During his time at HSF, Alder focused on equity capital markets, M&A, private equity and venture capital, while also handling some regulatory and compliance work.

He was succeeded as Asia chief at the firm by litigation partner Mark Johnson, and has since played a key role in driving the SFC's efforts to raise the standards of Hong Kong IPOs and its push new OTC derivatives regulation, among other things.

Another private practice lawyer to join the regulator recently was Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton partner Megan Tang, who left the US firm in January to take a job as director of the SFC's corporate finance division.

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