Thomas Gira, the head of the market regulation division at the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA), has passed away.
FINRA announced that Gira, executive vice president of market regulation and transparency services, died on June 20 at age 58. No cause of death was given.
The self-regulatory organization noted that, under Gira’s leadership, FINRA’s market regulation department expanded surveillance to all U.S. equities markets and almost half of U.S. options markets. Gira also recently took charge of FINRA’s unit devoted to enhancing market transparency for investors.
“Tom leaves behind an extensive and exemplary legacy of accomplishment over the course of his tremendous career in the securities industry, including nearly three decades at FINRA. He was well known for his expertise in securities markets regulation, built over the course of his lifetime commitment to protecting investors and the integrity of markets,” FINRA president and CEO Robert Cook said in a statement.
Before joining FINRA in 1992, Gira was an associate general counsel of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. He also worked in market regulation at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“Tom was a beloved and devoted husband and father, as well as a tremendous leader, colleague and friend, and we are enormously heartbroken by his passing,” Cook said.