In Brief

President Obama appoints Federal Trade Commission veteran Edith Ramirez to succeed Jon Leibowitz as chair, the commission says Feb. 28. Ramirez, named an FTC commissioner in April 2010, said she welcomes the opportunity to build on Leibowitz’s “legacy of active enforcement.” While at FTC, Ramirez has focused partly on competition and innovation in health care. By promoting a sitting commissioner to chairwoman, the president avoids needing a Senate confirmation for the appointment. Leibowitz stepped down Feb. 15 Also see "In Brief" - Pink Sheet, 4 February, 2013.. Ramirez previously served as VP on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners and was an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She graduated from Harvard Law School, where she and fellow student Obama worked on the Harvard Law Review. She later coordinated Obama’s campaign outreach to Latino voters in California.