Binance.US, the American affiliate of global crypto giant Binance, named Lesley O’Neill chief compliance officer Thursday.
O’Neill joins Binance.US from digital identity fintech Prove Identity, where she worked for five years and served as chief compliance officer for two. Prior to Prove, she worked in traditional finance.
Now at Binance.US, she’ll head the firm’s know-your-customer, anti-money laundering and sanctions programs. She replaces Tammy Weinrib, who, according to LinkedIn, left Binance.US in November after nearly two years.
“Lesley is an expert in the fraud and identity space with a proven track record of developing and overseeing robust compliance and legal functions,” interim CEO Norman Reed said in a prepared statement. “Her experience partnering with crypto companies to enhance their AML and KYC processes at Prove, as well as her work in traditional financial services at Ernst & Young, will be exceptionally valuable as we continue to uphold the highest standards of compliance, safety, and security on our platform.”
O’Neill said she looks forward to “earning and maintaining the trust of our customers and regulators by building upon the company’s strong foundation of compliance and deepening its commitment to accountability and transparency.”
Binance.US, along with its global affiliate Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao, is currently subject to a Securities and Exchange Committee enforcement action for allegedly selling unregistered securities. The SEC filed its action in June, at which time Zhao was still CEO of Binance, further alleging that he held control over Binance.US despite insisting it operated separately.
Zhao stepped down from his post in November and pleaded guilty to an anti-money laundering violation, agreeing then to pay $50 million in fines. Binance, as a company, paid $4.3 billion to the Justice Department, the Treasury Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Binance is now led by Richard Teng, who was previously the global head of regional markets.
Binance.US has lost other executives in recent months — most notably, its CEO. Brian Shroder left the crypto exchange after 2½ years in September. Though he left without explanation, his departure coincided with the layoffs of one-third of Binance.US’s staff.
Reed, Binance.US’s former chief legal officer and general counsel, as well as a former regulator with the SEC, has been interim CEO since September.
Separately, the firm’s chief risk officer, Sidney Majalya, departed in November, according to LinkedIn; as did Krishna Juvvadi, head of legal, according to LinkedIn.
Binance.US did not return a request for comment on when the Majalya and Juvvadi’s positions would be filled.
