US: Chairwoman Ramirez chooses FTC’s new Director of Economics

The Federal Trade Commission’s Chairwoman Edith Ramirez announced Monday that she has appointed Francine Lafontaine to be the regulator’s new Director at the Bureau of Economics.

According to reports, Lafontaine will succeed Martin Gaynor; until Lafontaine takes the position in November, Michael Vita will serve as acting Director of the Bureau.

”We are pleased that Francine Lafontaine will join the Federal Trade Commission as Director of the Bureau of Economics. I am confident that she will continue the tradition of excellence and provide valuable assistance to the Commission in fulfilling its competition and consumer protection mission,” the Chairwoman said in a statement, adding that she is “grateful” to Gaynor for his work.

Lafontaine will join the FTC from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and the University of Michigan, where she is a professor at both. Reports say she specializes in the fields of industrial organization, vertical integration and vertical restraints, among other areas.

Full content: Imperial Valley News

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