FINRA Board of Governors Upcoming Election: Nominee Announcement and Petition Period Start Date

Summary

The annual meeting of FINRA firms will take place on or about July 13, 2026, to elect one Large Firm Governor and one Small Firm Governor to the FINRA Board of Governors (FINRA Board). A formal notice of the meeting, including the precise date, time and location, will be mailed to executive representatives on or about June 8, 2026. 

The purpose of this Election Notice is to announce the FINRA Nominating & Governance Committee (Nominating Committee) large firm nominee, and to announce the start of a 45-day petition period for other individuals interested in being included as petition candidates for the large firm or small firm seat on the proxy for this election. More details on the petition procedures are included below.

Questions regarding this Election Notice may be directed to Marcia Asquith, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary, or Jennifer Piorko Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Corporate Governance and Deputy Corporate Secretary, via email or by calling (202) 728-8949.

FINRA Nominating Committee Nominee

There are two seats on the FINRA Board up for election at FINRA’s 2026 annual meeting: one Large Firm Governor seat and one Small Firm Governor seat. For the Large Firm Governor seat, the Nominating Committee has nominated Scott Curtis, Chief Operating Officer, Raymond James Financial. A biographical profile for Mr. Curtis is attached.

With respect to the Small Firm Governor seat, the Nominating Committee determined it would not nominate a candidate for election in 2026. Instead, any eligible individuals who obtain the requisite number of valid petitions will be certified as candidates and included on the proxy.

Petition Process for Additional Candidates

A person who has not been nominated by the Nominating Committee for election to the FINRA Board may be included on the proxy for the election of governors if:¹

1. within 45 days after the date of this Election Notice, such person presents to FINRA’s Corporate Secretary petitions in support of his or her nomination, duly executed by at least three percent of FINRA member firms entitled to vote for such nominee’s election. If, however, a candidate's name appears on a petition in support of more than one nominee, the petition must be endorsed by 10 percent of FINRA member firms entitled to vote for such nominees’ election; and
2. the Corporate Secretary certifies that such petitions have been duly executed by the executive representatives of the requisite number of FINRA member firms entitled to vote for such person’s election, and the person being nominated satisfies the classification of the governorship to be filled.

As of the close of business on April 3, 2026, the number of FINRA large firms was 156, and small firms was 2,847. Therefore, the requisite number of petitions for a large firm petitioner is 5 and a small firm petitioner is 86. Firms may only endorse one petitioner for the same firm-size seat as their own firm size. If a firm endorses more than one petitioner, the latest dated petition will be considered valid. 

Individuals interested in petitioning to become candidates should contact the Corporate Secretary’s office via email. An individual must submit sufficient information, such as their name, firm name and CRD number, to determine the person’s status with respect to the firm-size category for which he or she is seeking to become a candidate. To be eligible to serve as an elected Small Firm, Mid-Size Firm or Large Firm Governor, individuals must be registered with a member firm in that firm size category.²

Individuals wishing to run for either seat must satisfy the firm-size classification on the date the petition is circulated, the date the petitions are certified by FINRA’s Corporate Secretary and the date of the annual meeting. Individuals who fail to meet this requirement will be disqualified from the election. 

Petitioners must provide information sufficient for the Corporate Secretary to determine that the petitions are from the executive representatives of the requisite number of applicable-size member firms. In addition, to assist in the process of verifying petitions, FINRA requests that all petitions submitted be dated by their signatory. 

Petitions must be submitted no later than May 21, 2026.

Successful petitioners obtaining the requisite number of valid petitions will be included on the appropriate proxy along with any FINRA nominee. These proxies will be mailed to eligible firms before the annual meeting. 

Term of Office 

Governors elected at FINRA’s 2026 annual meeting will serve a three-year term concluding at FINRA’s 2029 annual meeting, or until his or her successor is duly elected or qualified, or until death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Governors generally may not serve more than two consecutive terms.³

Composition of the Board

The FINRA Board comprises between 22 and 25 members with one seat reserved for FINRA’s Chief Executive Officer, 10 seats designated for industry members and the remaining seats designated for public members. Seven of the industry governor seats—three Small Firm Governors, one Mid-Size Firm Governor and three Large Firm Governors—are designated for individuals associated with FINRA members that corresponds to each firm size. A small firm employs at least one and no more than 150 registered persons, a mid-size firm employs at least 151 and no more than 499 registered persons and a large firm employs 500 or more registered persons. The Nominating Committee may nominate individuals to run for these seven elected governor seats. The remaining industry governor seats—one Floor Member Governor, one Independent Dealer/Insurance Affiliate Governor and one Investment Company Affiliate Governor—and the Public Governor seats, are appointed by the FINRA Board from candidates recommended by the Nominating Committee.

Profile of the Large Firm Governor Nominee

Scott Curtis
Chief Operating Officer
Raymond James Financial

As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Curtis leads the firm’s institutional investment management and advisory solutions segments, global corporate real estate, corporate marketing, office services, and strategic initiatives supporting the firm’s growth and continued success.

Prior to his promotion to COO, from 2018-2024, Mr. Curtis served as president of Raymond James’ Private Client Group, where he led the firm’s domestic wealth management businesses comprising close to 8,000 financial advisors and $1.3 trillion in client assets under administration, while generating over 70% of the firm’s annual revenues. During the prior six years, he was president of Raymond James Financial Services where he directed the firm’s business supporting independent financial advisors. He was promoted to president of RJFS following six years as senior vice president of Raymond James & Associates Private Client Group where he directed numerous initiatives focused on revenue growth, efficiency enhancements, product development, risk mitigation, and service improvement.

Mr. Curtis joined Raymond James in February 2003 as president of Raymond James Insurance Group, after thirteen years with GE Financial Assurance in a variety of senior leadership roles—including as national sales director for investment products and as president of the firm’s retail broker/dealer.

Mr. Curtis earned an MBA degree from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and received a BA in economics and English from Denison University.

Mr. Curtis is a member of the firm’s Executive Leadership Team, serves on the Board of Raymond James Bank, and on FINRA’s Board of Governors, where he has served as Chair since 2025. Mr. Curtis is also a Board member of the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation and the United Way Suncoast Board of Directors. 

Endnotes