FinCEN Names Andrea Sharrin Policy Division Associate Director

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Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Jennifer Shasky Calvery, Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), announced today the selection of Andrea M. Sharrin as Associate Director for its Policy Division. Ms. Sharrin will oversee FinCEN’s regulatory functions and lead the staff that defines the framework for protecting the U.S. financial system from money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit finance. The Policy Division is responsible for drafting complex and diverse Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) rules, clarifying guidance, issuing regulatory rulings, as well as addressing broader strategic policy issues in the area of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, including the drafting of advisories for financial institutions.

Ms. Sharrin currently serves as the Director of the Office of Compliance and Enforcement in FinCEN’s Enforcement Division with responsibility for FinCEN's BSA compliance and enforcement program. This includes developing and implementing compliance and enforcement strategies, supervising investigations, enforcement actions and other activities that have industry-wide, national, and international impact. She replaces Jamal El-Hindi who assumed the post of FinCEN Deputy Director.

Ms. Sharrin previously served as Deputy Chief of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Criminal Division, Department of Justice (DOJ). She was responsible for developing and implementing DOJ’s intellectual property enforcement strategy, including litigation priorities, legislative and policy initiatives and domestic and international training and outreach. She coordinated with the White House on legislative proposals to enhance intellectual property protection efforts. A critical part of her responsibilities also included building and strengthening partnerships and coalitions across a multitude of regulatory, law enforcement, and industry stakeholders. Ms. Sharrin received numerous awards and recognition for her significant achievements in this area.

“Ms. Sharrin brings keen insight and policy skills to this position,” said Director Calvery. “In her previous position in our compliance and enforcement division she executed her duties in a tough but fair manner that brought great credit to FinCEN.”

Ms. Sharrin also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia and as Senior Counsel to the Federal Programs Branch, Civil Division, DOJ, where she litigated cases raising constitutional, statutory and administrative challenges to federal laws, regulations and policies. Ms. Sharrin began her career as a law clerk to the Honorable Lowell A. Reed, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and she is currently an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center.