WASHINGTON, D.C.— After 38 years of public service at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), George French has joined Better Markets as a Senior Fellow.
After a long and distinguished career of public service, Mr. French is a deeply experienced expert in all aspects of banking policy and regulation. Mr. French began at the FDIC as a financial economist and rose through the ranks, taking on a variety of increasingly senior roles, before becoming Deputy Director of the former Division of Insurance. In 2002, he was appointed Deputy Director of Risk Management Supervision where he had oversight of the teams responsible for developing regulatory and examination policies for capital markets and bank safety and soundness. He also had a significant role in the development of FDIC policies toward capital adequacy regulation. In 2018 he returned to his roots as an economist by rejoining the Division of Insurance and Research as Senior Advisor, and subsequently Deputy Director for Research and Regulatory Analysis. In these roles, he had oversight of the content of, and policies for, the FDIC’s analysis of regulations.
“The depth and breadth of George’s far-reaching experience and expertise in developing banking policy, analyzing the effects of regulations, and monitoring risks and trends in banking cannot be overstated,” said Dennis Kelleher, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Better Markets. “George knows the vital importance of a well-regulated banking system that is focused on supporting the real economy, economic growth, and broad-based wealth creation. We welcome him to Better Markets as he continues his lifelong commitment to serving the public interest in a safe and sound banking system.”
“I am excited to join the Better Markets team in their mission to build a stronger financial system that works for all Americans,” said Mr. French. “As proved yet again by the banking crisis of 2023, the quality, adequacy, and enforcement of banking rules are important to all Americans. Ensuring that those rules are robust, that the American people are protected, and that the industry can thrive are the overriding goals, and for me, Better Markets is the perfect place to advance those goals.”
Prior to the FDIC, Mr. French was an Assistant Professor Economics at Tulane University. He is a graduate of Princeton University and received a Ph.D. in Economics from Northwestern University.
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Better Markets is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization founded to promote the public interest in the financial markets, support the financial reform of Wall Street and make our financial system work for all Americans again. Better Markets works with allies—including many in finance—to promote pro-market, pro-business and pro-growth policies that help build a stronger, safer financial system that protects and promotes Americans’ jobs, savings, retirements and more. To learn more, visit www.bettermarkets.org.
