Sharon Bowen serves on the board of the Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), and the boards of certain of its affiliates, including the New York Stock Exchange and Bakkt. ICE is a Fortune 500 company that builds, operates, and advances global markets through information, technology, and expertise. It serves customers by operating exchanges, clearinghouses, and information services for them to invest, trade, and manage risks across the global financial and commodity markets.
Bowen also serves on the board of Neuberger Berman Group LLC and on its Audit Committee. Neuberger Berman is a private, 100% independent, employee-owned investment manager that manages a range of investment strategies on behalf of institutions, advisors, and individual investors globally.
Bowen is a partner at Seneca Women, a global leadership platform dedicated to connecting and advancing women in the economy. Its Seneca Connect app and Seneca Women Podcast Network amplify the voices of woman thought leaders. Bowen is a frequent speaker and advisor to corporations and financial institutions.
Bowen was the first African American to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate and appointed by President Obama to be a commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, President Obama and Congress charged the CFTC with reforming the unregulated swaps market with regulatory oversight of the $400 trillion swaps market.
Prior to her role at the CFTC, Commissioner Bowen was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and appointed by President Obama to serve as vice chair of the Securities Investor Protection Corporations, where she also served as acting chair. Previous to her work in the Obama administration, Commissioner Bowen had a renowned three-decade career in corporate and transactional law as an associate at Davis, Polk & Wardwell and later as an associate and partner at Latham & Watkins.
Bowen is the recipient of numerous awards, a trailblazer for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and holder of leadership roles in numerous nonprofit organizations— including the board and emeritus board (as former chair) of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc.—as well as the boards of the New York City Economic Development Corporation and Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning (PENCIL).
Bowen holds a BA in economics from the University of Virginia and a JD-MBA from Northwestern University.