Former CFPB official Peterson tapped to lead New Jersey consumer affairs division

Christopher L. Peterson, a former senior official at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), will become acting director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport’s office announced this week. 

Peterson will begin serving on Aug. 3, pending formal nomination by Gov. Mikie Sherrill to the position, which is subject to the advice and consent of the state Senate.

The move signals a continued shift to state oversight of predatory lending and consumer finance practices as federal enforcement priorities change. In May, California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed former CFPB Director Rohit Chopra to serve as secretary of the state’s newly created Business and Consumer Services Agency.

Peterson previously served as a senior adviser at the CFPB, where he worked on enforcement policy and strategy during the agency’s formative years. He also helped to develop the federal Military Lending Act, restricting abusive lending to service members and their families.

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

The Division of Consumer Affairs is New Jersey’s primary civil consumer protection agency. It enforces the state’s consumer fraud laws, regulates the securities industry and oversees 51 professional boards, according to a news release.

Sherrill said Peterson has “spent decades fighting for consumers through public service, congressional advocacy, and in the courtroom,” and she tied the appointment to broader affordability pressures facing New Jersey families.

“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,” Sherrill said. 

Davenport added that Peterson has “a remarkable record of holding lawbreakers accountable and relentlessly pursuing economic justice for consumers and military families.” 

Peterson said he plans 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.”

Jeremy E. Hollander has served as acting director since January 2026, following the departure of former director Elizabeth M. Harris. He will return to his role as deputy director of the division’s Office of Consumer Protection, the announcement explained.

This article was written by Flávia Furlan Nunes and generated with the assistance of HousingWire Automation, then reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.