State Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced Jan. 16 he appointed Elizabeth Harris to serve as chief of the New Jersey Bureau of Securities, effective immediately.

The office, which is within the Division of Consumer Affairs, is tasked with protecting investors from investment fraud and regulating the securities industry in New Jersey. The Bureau of Securities collaborates with agencies across the country and around the globe to bring investigative and enforcement actions against parties that violate the New Jersey Uniform Securities Law and Regulations.

Harris most recently served as a vice president in the public finance banking department at Morgan Stanley. There, she was involved in all aspects of debt financing, including public bond offerings, direct purchases, private placements and lending. Her legal career has included stints as an assistant United States attorney for the District of New Jersey, general counsel for the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corp., and as an associate at K&L Gates LLP.

She succeeds Amy Kopleton, who has served the past two years as acting bureau chief and will return to her former role as deputy chief of the bureau.

In a press release, Platkin commended Kopleton for her “exemplary service.”

“Under Amy’s leadership, New Jersey continued to serve as a national leader in investor protection, especially in the fast-evolving area of digital markets,” said Platkin. “I thank Amy for her hard work and dedicated service to the Bureau and to New Jersey investors.”

As he welcomed Harris, Platkin noted that the Bureau acts as a critical first line of defense against investor fraud and as a watchdog over the state’s financial markets.

“Elizabeth Harris is an accomplished attorney whose legal experience, financial acumen, and sound judgement make her an excellent fit to lead the Bureau in carrying out its important work,” said Platkin. “I am looking forward to working with her to continue protecting New Jersey consumers and investors.”

“Elizabeth’s professional experience as a federal prosecutor as well as her work within the regulated financial industry provide her with a breadth of knowledge that will prove invaluable to the Bureau and New Jersey investors,” added Cari Fais, acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Harris describes the Bureau as a national model for securities regulation, “And I am honored to be entrusted with a leadership role in pursuing its mission,” she said. “I look forward to working with the dedicated professionals at the Bureau on new opportunities for investor protections.”