Global Digital Finance bolsters regulatory affairs team for the Americas

By Edlyn Cardoza

Global Digital Finance (GDF), a global crypto assets and digital finance industry membership body that promotes best practices for crypto assets and digital finance technologies, recently announced new hires. GDF has appointed Andrew Smith as its Regulatory Affairs Director for the U.S. and the Americas, and Dina Ellis Rochkind as U.S. Policy Director.

Previously, Andrew was appointed to senior leadership roles at the U.S. Departments of Treasury, Justice, and International Trade Administration, where he worked on a variety of domestic and international finance, blockchain and digital asset topics. Prior to his public service, Andrew worked as a commodities analyst and broker with an international investment bank and interdealer brokerage firm.

Dina Ellis Rochkind is Of Counsel in the Paul Hastings Government Affairs practice and is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

Dina has over 20 years of experience on Capitol Hill, lobbying and working for the Executive Branch. Previously, she served as Washington Director in the office of Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO). Other Capitol Hill experience includes serving as senior staff for various Congressional Committees and Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA). She has worked across party lines on both sides of the aisle to achieve key legislative successes and has a reputation for “getting things done” in Washington.

Andrew and Dina will join U.S.-based GDF board members Jeff Bandman and Sandra Ro and U.S. Policy Directors Melissa Netrum and John Collins to strengthen GDF’s presence and advocacy initiatives on the ground.

Lawrence Wintermeyer, Executive Co-Chair of Global Digital Finance, said, “GDF members have told us the U.S. is a big focus for them this year and has asked us to prioritize policymaker and regulator outreach in 2022. Andrew and Dina bring a wealth of experience and insight to support and strengthen the team and our advocacy programme in the Americas.”

Jeff Bandman, Board Member of Global Digital Finance, added: “Engaging with policy makers and regulators to promote responsible innovation and enlightened legal frameworks and supervision of digital assets has been at the heart of GDF’s mission since inception. I’m delighted to welcome our talented new additions to elevate GDF’s engagement in this pivotal year”.

Andrew Smith, Regulatory Affairs Director – Americas, said: “I am delighted to be invited to join Global Digital Finance, to help support the engagement between industry, regulators and legislators in the digital assets industry. I look forward to working with the GDF membership and team to support the development of balanced policies throughout the Americas.”

Dina Ellis Rochkind, US Policy Director, added, “It is a great honor to be working with the incredible team at GDF. With the invasion of Ukraine, GDF will play an even more important role in the harmonization efforts between the US, Europe and other nations when it comes to digital assets. GDF has been actively engaging with the US Congress and regulators, and I look forward to helping with those efforts during this challenging time.”