FTC's Straight is retiring

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Rosemarie Straight, executive director of the Federal Trade Commission, will retire after 22 years of service with the agency, it was announced Thursday.

Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras, who made the announcement, said Judith Bailey, currently deputy executive director, would serve as acting executive director.

"Rosemarie has made an indelible impression on the FTC landscape and we will miss her," Majoras said. "Her contributions advanced major FTC operations, programs, and initiatives, and improved the daily work life of all of the agency's employees."

Straight joined the FTC in 1983 as assistant director of human resources and became director of human resources in 1987. She was named deputy executive director in 1992 by former Chairman Janet Steiger and named executive director in 1997 by former Chairman Robert Pitofsky.

During Straight's tenure as executive director, the FTC's budget doubled from $101.9 million in 1997 to $205.4 million in 2005.