Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has announced a leadership change within the Division of Consumer Affairs. Elizabeth M. Harris, currently the Bureau of Securities Chief, will assume the role of Acting Director following Cari Fais’s departure for an opportunity outside the Department of Law and Public Safety. This transition is effective from May 15, 2025.
Platkin expressed his appreciation for Fais’s contributions: “Cari Fais has been an indispensable partner in carrying out our Department’s consumer protection work, from taking on social media companies to holding licensed professionals to the highest standards. We will miss her steady hand and leadership, and I am grateful for her outstanding service to our state.” He added confidence in Harris’s ability to lead: “I am confident that the Division will build on its success under Elizabeth Harris, an accomplished attorney with sound judgement, extensive knowledge, and deep experience as a regulator, prosecutor, and public finance professional.”
Fais led the Division since May 2022 and was confirmed by the New Jersey Senate in October 2024. Her tenure focused on data privacy, cybersecurity, and technology accountability. The Division took action against social media companies for harmful practices towards children in New Jersey and secured settlements against corporations failing to protect consumers’ personal data.
Under Fais’s guidance, initiatives were launched to stop predatory lending practices and protect elderly investors from financial exploitation. She also improved services such as a mediation program for consumer complaints and increased transparency within operations.
Harris has served as Chief of the Bureau of Securities since January 2024. Her focus included obtaining restitution for New Jersey investors and launching a portal to aid compliance with the SAFE Act aimed at protecting vulnerable adults.
Harris previously worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for New Jersey handling complex cases including white-collar crime. Her career includes roles at Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation and law firms Duane Morris LLP and K&L Gates LLP.
She holds degrees from Fordham University, Columbia University Teachers College, and Rutgers University School of Law. Before her legal career, she taught technology and history at The Beacon School in New York City.
“I am honored by the opportunity to protect the consumers in my home state as Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs,” said Harris upon her appointment.
The Division of Consumer Affairs operates under the Department of Law and Public Safety with a mission to protect against fraud through education, advocacy, regulation, and enforcement across various sectors including securities regulation.
