Finance industry trade group adds cybersecurity expert

Former Morgan Stanley managing director John Carlson has joined BITS, the technology policy division of the Financial Services Roundtable to lead cybersecurity initiatives for the financial industry.

Carlson re-joined the lobbying group on Thursday after working at BITS from 2002 until he left for Morgan Stanley in 2010. Prior to 2002 he served in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as director of bank technology. He has also worked for the Office of Management and Budget and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

“John’s leadership within the industry, at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and at the helm of public-private collaborations is broad, deep and well-respected,” said BITS president Paul Smocer. “John has been foundational to BITS’ success in the past and we are privileged to have him rejoin our staff.”

The financial industry is a leading candidate for regulation if Congress succeeds in passing comprehensive cybersecurity legislation. The Senate proposal would task the Department of Homeland Security with ensuring firms implement adequate safeguards, while the House GOP favors incentives for information sharing but no mandate.