Following New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s nomination of Maria Vullo as superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, he appointed three other individuals to the department.
Matthew L. Levine was named executive deputy superintendent for Enforcement. Through his new position, Levine will lead the department’s enforcement actions, ensuring that regulated parties are held accountable for illegal business practices. He will also have to coordinate with senior staff and law enforcement agencies under the direction of the superintendent.
Levine was a former federal prosecutor and trial lawyer. He once represented clients in private practice, and was even the founding principal of his own law firm in New York City. He also served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and again in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Richard A. Loconte was chosen as the new executive deputy superintendent for Communications and Strategy for the department.
Loconte has over 20 years’ experience in communications and public policy. He was deputy head of Government Affairs and associate general counsel at the American International Group since 2008. From 2005 to 2008, he was deputy executive director for the Association for a Better New York.
Jennifer L. Smith was appointed special assistant to the superintendent at DFS.
Smith was just recently an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She also served as assistant counsel to the Commission on Judicial Nomination at around the same time. Prior to joining Skadden, she was a trial attorney for Bolan Jahnsen Dacey, and Greenberg Traurig.
