Fernando E. Grillo, now the former head of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, was appointed to serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation in July 2003 and then promoted to Secretary of the newly created umbrella agency in March of 2004. In his role as Secretary, he led the consolidation of the former Departments of Banks and Real Estate, Financial Institutions, Insurance and Professional Regulation that resulted in $14 million in yearly savings to taxpayers. He was responsible for the regulation of over one million licensees in over forty professional and industry categories including medical, health related, banking, real estate, and insurance. During his tenure, Secretary Grillo was involved in many major initiatives including medical malpractice reform, the pharmacy rule on emergency contraception, the I-Save Rx program, the banning of Toughman competitions in Illinois, and chaired the Governor's working group that resulted in legislation to regulate and bring serious reform to the payday lending industry. He directed a regulatory investigation into insurance broker commissions that led to settlements by major insurance brokers of $300 million for the benefit of Illinois consumers. He received high marks from citizens, consumer groups, business leaders, professional associations and legislators for transforming the agency from a licensing, regulatory agency to a consumer protection agency. Secretary Grillo left the Cabinet in August 2005 to return to Ramirez & Co., Inc., the oldest Hispanic-owned investment banking firm in the United States, as a Managing Director.   

Secretary Grillo is an attorney licensed in the State of Illinois and the US District Court Northern District of Illinois. His past practice specialized in administrative, real estate, regulatory, and election law. He has advocated on behalf of economic development issues in Hispanic communities throughout the country, and participated in national Hispanic business, civic, and charitable organizations.

In 2000, Secretary Grillo, co-founded Alianza Capital Corporation with Mr. Paul Labadie, a Puerto Rican economist and financial consultant, to represent JP Morgan and other financial firms and to act as their strategic partner in business development in several US and foreign jurisdictions. Alianza Capital Corporation served as financial advisors and management consultants to various municipalities.

Between 1995 and 1999, Secretary Grillo served as a Vice President of Ramirez & Co., Inc.; a New York based investment bank. As an Investment Banker, his responsibilities grew from servicing major issuers in the Midwest region and throughout the US to the Territory of Guam, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Secretary Grillo was in public service between 1981 and 1993. He held several positions on the staffs of elected officials and executive officers. He rose through the ranks of city government from a clerk during his high school years to Deputy Commissioner of Housing in the early years of the Daley Administration.

Secretary Grillo is a charter member, past officer and board member of the Illinois Puerto Rican Bar Association. He is a past member of the Illinois Supreme Court Character and Fitness Committee. He serves on the Boards of Directors of the Advocate Illinois Masonic Charitable Foundation, Hispanocare, Family Focus, and Latino Technology Association. He formerly served on the Advisory Board and Board of Directors of the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center and the Board of Directors of the Logan Square YMCA.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Andrews University and his Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School in 1993.

Secretary Grillo lives in Oak Park, Illinois with his wife Alejandra and his son Javier Alejandro.