California Gov. Gavin Newsom has made several appointments to the recently established California Business and Consumer Services Agency.
Secretary Rohit Chopra, who was sworn in July 1 as the agency’s first secretary, serves as a cabinet-level adviser to the governor. The agency’s objective is to support entrepreneurs and small businesses while protecting consumers and promoting a fair, competitive economy. Dozens of boards, bureaus and departments across various industries fall under the agency’s purview.
Chopra is the former director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and served as a commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission. In these positions, Chopra worked on efforts to crack down on junk fees and unfair practices and modernize the banking and payment system, as well as address mortgages, credit cards, student loans and other consumer financial concerns.
Chopra and Newsom say the agency’s immediate goals include helping entrepreneurs and small businesses succeed and protecting consumers from fraudulent, corrupt and other harmful business practices, as well as ensuring that new technologies benefit Californians. Consumer protection efforts will include increasing oversight of oil companies and other corporations, protecting online consumer privacy and enforcing laws against predatory scams. Plans also are in place to launch CalRx to bring down prescription drug costs and to put an emphasis on detecting junk fees and other concealed charges.
Newsom’s other appointees include Undersecretary Melinda Grant, who served in the same capacity at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency from 2019 to 2026. Grant also held legislative positions before her appointment, including Deputy Legislative Secretary in Newsom’s office.
Incoming Deputy Secretary and General Counsel Tad Egawa served in the same position at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency from 2019 to 2026. Egawa also has been legal counsel for various state agencies and worked in private practice.
Along with Grant and Egawa, Nicole Hisatomi comes to the new agency from the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. She served as Deputy Secretary of Legislation at that agency from 2024 to 2026. Hisatomi also held various legislative positions working with Assemblymember Mark Stone.
Another alumna of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, Claire Cullis, has been appointed Deputy Secretary. She previously served as Deputy Secretary of Business and Consumer Relations at the agency from 2025 to 2026. Cullis also was Chief of Staff to First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and CEO and founder of Claire Cullis Consulting LLC. She held several positions within the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee member Tiffany Roberts comes to the agency from the oil industry, where she was Western Region Senior Director of Government Affairs at Phillips 66 and previously served as Western Region Director of Government Affairs. She also held positions at the Western States Petroleum Association, including Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Director of Legislative and Regulatory Policy. Roberts has also worked as a regulatory policy consultant at the state level and as a senior energy and climate change analyst for the California Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Photo courtesy of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office
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