The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has created a new position to lead its pursuit of diversity in the workplace.

The SEC announced that Ronald Crawford will become the agency’s first chief counsel for diversity and policy initiatives within the Office of Human Resources. Crawford is currently the senior associate regional director in the SEC’s Atlanta office. He will take up his new position next month, and will advocate diversity in recruitment, training, leadership and employee relations.

Crawford, who started at the SEC in 1980 in the commission’s enforcement division, said, “At this critical juncture in the agency’s history, creating a more inclusive environment will give the SEC a competitive advantage as it seeks to attract and retain the highest caliber staff of professionals.”

IE