Katherine Lemire

Katherine Lemire was appointed to lead the newly created Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division of the state Department of Financial Services, acting superintendent Linda Lacewell announced Monday.

Lemire will serve as executive deputy superintendent of the new division, which combines the previously separated Enforcement, and Financial Frauds and Consumer Protection Divisions of the office.

“DFS's new Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division will be a powerhouse, and Katie's knowledge and skillset will greatly strengthen the Department's mandate to guard against financial crises and to protect consumers and markets from fraud,” Lacewell said.

Lemire was most recently a partner at StoneTurn Group LLP, an international consulting firm that provides regulation compliance and investigative services. She also founded and led her own risk and compliance firm, Lemire LLC, which merged with StoneTurn.

Matthew Levine will remain as executive deputy superintendent for enforcement, according to DFS. He's been in the role since his appointment by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2016. The position is responsible for guiding the agency's enforcement actions, which will intermingle with Lemire's position often.

The new division of the agency will be responsible for enforcing compliance with state regulations and fighting consumer fraud while protecting and educating individuals about their financial and digital security. It will cultivate investigations into violations of the state's banking, insurance and financial services laws as well, with a special focus on cybersecurity and financial crimes.

“Given the paramount importance of consumer protection and regulatory oversight in the financial marketplace, I look forward to once again re-entering public service and serving the best interests of New Yorkers, while utilizing the expertise and dedication of DFS staff and resources of the Department,” Lemire said.

Her background is not unlike that of Lacewell, who served formerly as a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn. Lemire previously worked as a federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, where she specialized in public corruption, racketeering, fraud and other white-collar offenses. She also worked in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

“As a highly respected and experienced prosecutor, compliance and regulatory professional, Katie is well-positioned to successfully marshal the extensive resources of the Department's Enforcement and Financial Frauds and Consumer Protection divisions to deliver real results for New Yorkers,” Lacewell said.

Lemire also served as counsel to New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly for a time, during which she managed legal and operational matters for the agency.

It's the first major appointment by Lacewell since she took charge of the agency in February. The state Senate has yet to confirm her to the position of superintendent and has not announced plans to do so as of yet. She will remain acting superintendent of the agency until that time.

The last time someone was confirmed to the post, the Senate held three separate hearings before sending the nomination of Maria Vullo to the floor for a vote. Vullo was confirmed in 2016, but chose to leave the office earlier this year. She's now a senior fellow at New York University's School of Law Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement.

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