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President Barack Obama designated Jon Leibowitz as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission by a White House Order dated March 2, 2009.

“I am honored and grateful that President Obama has selected me to lead this remarkable agency,” Leibowitz said. “I look forward to continuing our rich tradition of vigorous antitrust enforcement and consumer protection.”

Leibowitz became a Commissioner of the FTC on September 3, 2004, resuming a long career of public service. He was formerly the Democratic chief counsel and staff director for the U.S. Senate Antitrust Subcommittee from 1997 to 2000, focusing on competition policy and telecommunications matters. Leibowitz was chief counsel and staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism and Technology from 1995 to 1996, and for the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice from 1991 to 1994. He also served as chief counsel to Senator Herb Kohl from 1989 to 2000, and he worked for Senator Paul Simon from 1986 to 1987. In the private sector, Leibowitz served as vice president for congressional affairs for the Motion Picture Association of America from 2000 to 2004, and worked as an attorney in private practice in Washington from 1984 to 1986.

Leibowitz graduated from the New York University School of Law and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Wisconsin. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and has co-authored amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court on issues ranging from gun control to the census.

Leibowitz lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife, Ruth Marcus, and his two daughters, Emma and Julia.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

(Leibowitz)