Maria T. Vullo
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Maria T. Vullo served as the Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services for three years from 2016-2019. As Superintendent, Ms. Vullo was responsible for the regulation of New York’s financial services industry, including all New York State chartered banks, branches of foreign banks, insurance companies and agents licensed to do business in New York, and non-depository financial services companies licensed to do business in New York, including mortgage lenders and servicers and cryptocurrency firms. Ms. Vullo managed an agency staff of 1,400 employees with a budget in excess of $250 million. Ms. Vullo was nominated for the position by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and confirmed by the New York State Senate.
During Ms. Vullo’s tenure as DFS Superintendent, she promulgated a groundbreaking cybersecurity regulation applicable to all DFS regulated institutions that has become a national model; issued a first in the nation transaction monitoring regulation to address money laundering and terrorist financing violations; launched and resolved significant enforcement actions for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering and sanctions laws, and regarding foreign currency market manipulation; defended the right of New Yorkers to quality and affordable healthcare by issuing regulations in the face of federal administration assaults on the Affordable Care Act; established prudent industry standards in regulated markets including a “best interests” regulation for annuities and life insurance products and regulations to protect homeowners from excessive title insurance premiums; protected women’s access to reproductive health coverage; championed reforms in the student loan industry; increased access to financial services in underserved communities; and protected consumers with key regulatory and legislative initiatives and by mandating restitution in numerous consent orders.
Ms. Vullo is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2018 Excellent in Consumer Advocacy Award by the NAIC Consumer Representatives, the 2018 Insurance Woman of the Year Award by the Association of Professional Insurance Women, the 2017 Mario Cuomo Public Service Award by the National Italian-American Foundation, and the 2016 Women Making a Difference Award by Eleanor’s Legacy. Ms. Vullo was twice nominated by the New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination to be an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.
Prior to assuming the role of DFS Superintendent, Ms. Vullo was a litigation partner for 20 years with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. She is an experienced trial and appellate litigator in civil, criminal and regulatory matters, including in financial services, securities, real estate, antitrust, healthcare, bankruptcy, environmental and constitutional law. Ms. Vullo is also known as a leader in protecting women’s and human rights, including by prosecuting significant pro bono litigations, authoring many amicus curiae briefs and serving in leadership positions in nonprofit organizations. In addition, Ms. Vullo served as Executive Deputy Attorney General for Economic Justice under Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Ms. Vullo holds a JD from the New York University School of Law, an MPA from NYU Wagner’s Graduate School of Public Service, and a BA and an Honorary PhD from the College of Mount Saint Vincent.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]