THE DEATH has occurred of Vincent Schmoll, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
On Thursday FATF President T. Raja Kumar said that “it was with deep sadness that I learnt of the passing of Vincent Schmoll.”
Mr Schmoll, known to colleagues as “Casey”, joined the FATF Secretariat in Paris in 1998 and over the years played a crucial role in shaping and driving the FATF’s transformation from a small task force to an established international body with 40 members and an open-ended mandate.
Prior to joining the FATF Secretariat, he worked at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen) in his native United States. Until his death on 4 February, he was Deputy Executive Secretary of the FATF Secretariat, a role he fulfilled with deep commitment, diligence, humility and compassion.
“Mr. Schmoll’s unwavering dedication to the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and his commitment to expand the FATF’s reach, were a driving force behind the creation of the Global Network, bringing together nine FATF-Style Regional Bodies around the globe and 205 countries and jurisdictions,” Mr Kumar said.
“During his many years in the FATF Secretariat, he contributed to and led many of the core work streams of the FATF, from typologies research to peer reviews. Mr. Schmoll played a crucial role in shaping the success and effectiveness of the FATF,” Mr Kumar added.
“He was a great mentor and his passion, professionalism and dedication were a source of inspiration and guidance for his colleagues and delegates alike. He was and will always be a FATF colossus. Few will make the same mark as he did on the FATF and its Secretariat.
“Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time,” said Mr Kumar.
The organisation’s Executive Secretary Violaine Clerc said: “It is with deep sorrow that we share the sad news of the passing of our beloved Deputy Executive Secretary, Vincent ‘Casey’ Schmoll. Casey had been an integral part of the FATF family since 1997, and his untimely departure leaves a void that cannot be filled.
“Casey’s passion, professionalism and dedication have played a pivotal role in the success and effectiveness of the FATF and the Global Network. Casey was not merely a colleague but a mentor, a guide, and a friend to many of us.
“His dedication and unwavering commitment to the FATF have been a source of inspiration for all. Casey strongly believed in the importance of the Global Network, and he worked tirelessly to foster connections with FSRB secretariats, and to build and nurture relationships founded on trust and mutual respect.
“Over the years, he played a crucial role in shaping the success and progress of our organization, leaving an indelible mark on our collective journey.
“Our thoughts are with his family,” she wrote.
Mr Schmoll held a number of Senior Policy Analyst posts since joining the FATF Secretariat in 1998. Prior to his arrival at the FATF Secretariat he worked in strategic analysis area at the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
FATF described how he had extensive experience in the field of combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, in particular as related to risk, method and trend analysis, conducting country assessments and outreach to FATF-style regional bodies.
A United States’ national, he held a BS (Languages) degree from Georgetown University.
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