Gov. Sherrill to nominate former CFPB official to lead New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs

TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Mikie Sherrill plans to nominate nationally recognized consumer protection expert Christopher L. Peterson to serve as director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced.

If confirmed by the state Senate, Peterson will oversee the state’s consumer protection agency, which is responsible for protecting consumers’ rights, regulating the securities industry and supervising 51 professional licensing boards.

Peterson previously served as a senior official at the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he helped shape the agency during its early years and worked on enforcement policy and strategy. He also played a role in strengthening the federal Military Lending Act, which provides protections against predatory lending for military service members and their families.

“Chris Peterson has spent decades fighting for consumers through public service, congressional advocacy, and in the courtroom,” said Governor Sherrill. “At a time when the CFPB has abandoned the consumers it should be protecting and New Jersey families are facing rising costs from Donald Trump’s war in Iran and illegal tariffs, Chris’s unparalleled experience protecting families from predatory practices will help ensure New Jersey remains at the forefront of consumer protection and continues standing up for residents no matter what is happening in Washington.”

Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said Peterson’s experience will strengthen the state’s consumer protection efforts.

“Chris has a remarkable record of holding lawbreakers accountable and relentlessly pursuing economic justice for consumers and military families throughout his career,” said Attorney General Davenport. “New Jersey has some of the strongest laws in the country to curb the illegal conduct that is deepening our affordability crisis, and Chris’s vast experience shaping consumer protection policy and enforcing the law will ensure that the Division of Consumer Affairs can lead the country in protecting working families struggling to make ends meet.”

Most recently, Peterson served as the John J. Flynn Endowed Professor of Law at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law.

“It is a privilege to join the Division of Consumer Affairs, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead an efficient, accessible agency that strives to serve the public every day,” said Peterson. “On day one, I will get to work to make life more affordable for New Jersey families by protecting consumers from scams and exploitation, and to ensure that our agency supports honest businesses while holding those who break our laws accountable.”

Peterson is scheduled to begin serving as acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs on Aug. 3, pending his formal nomination by Sherrill. His appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the New Jersey Senate.

Jeremy E. Hollander, who has served as acting director since January following the departure of Elizabeth M. Harris, will return to his role as deputy director of the Division’s Office of Consumer Protection.