Finra taps former Schwab exec Bari Havlik to replace Susan Axelrod in top cop job

Ms. Havlik will oversee Finra's surveillance and examination programs.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. has selected Bari Havlik, most recently chief compliance officer the The Charles Schwab Corp., as head of its member regulation program.

As executive vice president for member supervision, Ms. Havlik will be in charge of Finra’s surveillance and examination programs. She will report directly to Finra CEO Robert Cook.

Ms. Havlik replaces Susan Axelrod, who is leaving Finra after 28 years to be the chief supervisory officer of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

Ms. Havlik, who was with Schwab until last October, will start at Finra on April 30, the regulator said in a release.

Ms. Havlik began her career in financial services in 1982 and has worked in a variety of channels including discount brokerage, full-service retail, institutional and bank-affiliated broker-dealers. She was on the board of the National Society of Compliance Professionals from October 2009 through March 2011 and also was active in several industry advisory committees for Finra and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.