People: SEC’s Public Affairs Chief Leaves for OMB

Chris Ullman, the director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s office of public affairs for almost four years, left the SEC Monday to join the Office of Management and Budget as associate director for communications, the SEC announced yesterday.

In his post at the SEC, Ullman, 37, advised chairman Arthur Levitt and senior officials on communications matters, the modernization and expansion of the commission’s media outreach efforts, and how to promote the use of plain English in all written media materials.

“It has been a great honor and privilege to serve chairman Levitt, the commission, and America’s investors these past four years,” Ullman said in the written release. “This is a unique institution filled with wonderfully talented and dedicated people and I will miss it greatly. I particularly thank the office of public affairs staff for their years of support and commitment to excellence. “

Before joining the SEC in April 1997, Ullman served in several public and private sector communications positions. He was press secretary for the House Budget Committee and public affairs manager at Citizens for a Sound Economy. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

— Lynn Hume