Former senator Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, is the new CEO of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and ex-representative Ken Bentsen, a Texas Democrat, was named the organization's president. Bentsen, a House member from 1995 to 2003, is no stranger to the influence game. He became SIFMA's lobbyist in 2009.

The SIFMA Executive Committee has appointed Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr., executive vice president, public policy and advocacy at SIFMA, as Acting President and CEO of SIFMA effective, February 23.

Ken Bentsen* Equipment Leasing and Finance Assn

On the personal side, Ken Bentsen is also an active member of a number of educational, civic and charitable boards. He serves as Chairman of the Board of the Susan G. Komen For The Cure. http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/May%202007/05-11-07.htm#eaelc Deere, Caterpillar and other equipment makers benefited when the program was expanded as a result of efforts by ELFA President Kenneth Bentsen.

Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr. - Executive Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy Kenneth Bentsen Mr. Bentsen is Executive Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy at SIFMA, responsible for SIFMA's legal, regulatory, and legislative affairs and advocacy initiatives. Prior to joining SIFMA, Mr. Bentsen was president of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, where he led the 700-member financial services trade association representing commercial and investment banks, financial services companies and manufacturers in the commercial finance sector. In that role he developed and implemented a new strategic direction for this principal industry association. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Bentsen was a Managing Director at Public Strategies, Inc. where he was a strategic and management consultant principally to the firm's financial services clients. From 1995 to 2003, Mr. Bentsen served as a Member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas, where he sat on the House Financial Services Committee (and its predecessor House Banking and Financial Services Committee), and separately on the House Budget Committee. Mr. Bentsen was an active participant in the drafting and enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act and the Commodities Futures Modernization Act. During his tenure in the Congress, he played an active role in legislation and oversight of regulations affecting bank and thrift charters, federal deposit insurance, securities law, derivatives, and the federal government sponsored enterprises (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHLB system). Mr. Bentsen was also instrumental in the passage of the landmark Balanced Budget Act of 1997, particularly with respect to health care policy. Prior to his service in Congress, Mr. Bentsen was an investment banker at both a major Wall Street firm and a large regional firm, where he specialized in municipal and mortgage finance. Mr. Bentsen has a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and an M.P.A. from American University.