DeZur Leaves BDA to Take Job With CME Group in Chicago

WASHINGTON — Samantha DeZur, Bond Dealers of America's vice president of federal policy and strategic communications, plans to join Chicago-based CME Group as manager of government relations on Sept. 14.

Her last day with BDA in Washington DC will be Aug. 26. She has worked with the dealer group since October 2014.

CME Group is described by a spokesman as "the largest global derivatives exchange" and DeZur said she is excited to join the company's "great government relations presence."

DeZur said she had been looking for a job in Chicago for "quite some time" because she is originally from Wisconsin. But she added that the move from BDA and Washington DC will be "bittersweet" because she's going "going to miss the BDA" where it has been "a pleasure to work."

BDA's "members are very passionate about what they do which makes it really easy to understand the benefits of the small and medium-sized broker dealers and advocate on their behalf," DeZur said. "I have come to understand the critical role that they play in the municipal bond market in helping to facilitate financing for important community projects."

At BDA, DeZur co-staffed the group's municipal bond division and served as the organization's internal director of strategic communications by establishing and enhancing relationships with media in Washington DC and New York, BDA chief executive officer Mike Nicholas said.

Nicholas described DeZur as "smart and very engaging" and said she will be missed at BDA.

As a registered lobbyist, DeZur was also partially responsible for expanding the BDA's presence among Congress' two tax-writing committees, the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. Nicholas said she did "a fantastic job" representing BDA on Capitol Hill.

The dealer group will divide DeZur's previous responsibilities between its current staff and its lobbying groups while Nicholas and other members look to fill her position.

Nicholas said the group's intent is to have DeZur's position filled by the end of the calendar year.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Law and regulation
MORE FROM BOND BUYER