For Immediate Release 99-76 Susan Ochs, Director of Legislative Affairs, to Leave the Commission Washington, DC, July 2, 1999 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Susan M. Ochs, Director of the SEC's Office of Legislative Affairs, will leave the Commission at the end of this month to pursue a masters degree in business administration at Harvard Business School. Susan F. Wyderko, currently Counsel to Chairman Arthur Levitt, will serve as Acting Director of the Office until a successor is named. Chairman Levitt said, "Susan's tireless efforts on behalf of the Commission have served the investing public well. Her integrity and intelligence are exemplary, and her valuable insight and wise counsel will be greatly missed. We all wish her well in her academic pursuits and are certain that she will succeed in all her endeavors in her very promising future." As Director, Ms. Ochs, 27, played a key role in developing and implementing legislative policy. She advised the Chairman and the Commission on all major legislative issues, including securities markets improvement and financial services reform. She served as the agency's chief liaison to members of Congress and their staffs and monitored the progress of legislation concerning the Commission. Ms. Ochs also coordinated the preparation for congressional testimony for the Chairman, Commissioners, and senior SEC staff. Prior to her appointment in August 1998 as Director, Ms. Ochs served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Commission starting in December 1997. Before joining the Commission, Ms. Ochs was an analyst in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Treasury Department where she worked on banking, appropriations and international trade issues. Previously, she coordinated arbitrage and derivative trades and managed cash positions as a portfolio assistant at J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. from 1993 until 1995. Ms. Ochs graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in economics. # # #