CFTC Chairman Selig Announces Jessica Harris as Director, Division of Data and Chief Data Officer

CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig announced Jessica Harris as Director of the CFTC’s Division of Data and as the agency’s Chief Data Officer (press release dated March 16, 2026). While not metals-specific, the appointment is relevant for futures/derivatives market oversight given the Division of Data’s role in surveillance and policymaking that can affect COMEX precious metals markets via data standards, monitoring, and enforcement priorities. The CFTC statement highlights that “data is integral” to Commission functions “from surveillance to policymaking,” framing the hire around a “rapid transformation and innovation in the derivatives markets.” Harris is described as having 25 years’ experience across surveillance, market conduct, data standards and financial regulation, including prior roles at the CFTC and NFA, and work in regulatory banking/financial services; the release emphasizes use of data analytics/technology to address market complexity. Near-term market impact for gold/silver traders is indirect, but could matter through changes to how the CFTC collects/normalizes derivatives data and how it prioritizes analytics-driven surveillance—potentially affecting investigations, reporting requirements, or data quality around positions, liquidity, and market conduct. Watch for follow-on communications from the Division of Data on data strategy, analytics initiatives, or any consultation on reporting standards that could eventually touch swaps/futures reporting and position monitoring.