President Barack Obama has nominated former federal prosecutor Mary Jo White to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, Reuters reported. 

White, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, is known for prosecuting terrorists and mob figures. She would become the third consecutive woman to hold the post. 

She would succeed current chairman Elisse Walter, who took over in December after predecessor Mary Schapiro stepped down.

White is a relatively uncontroversial pick, but she does not have a deep securities policy background. She has spent her recent private practice work defending Wall Street figures.

A swift confirmation could help the SEC speed up its implementation of dozens of unfinished rules required by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law.