New SEC enforcement chief faces steep learning curve (Compliance Week)

The SEC’s new director of its enforcement division brings with her a background in military law, not securities law. As a judge for the Armed Forces, the appointment of Margaret Ryan to the role marks a shift from traditional enforcement director backgrounds stemming from the industry’s legal or federal prosecution areas. FrontLine’s Founder and President Amy Lynch comments that the decision to appoint Ms. Ryan may lead to questions about whether she is qualified to lead the enforcement of securities laws and regulations without the requisite background typically required for the role. The industry, and especially those in compliance, will be closely observing early decisions by Ms. Ryan and the initial cases pursued to better understand the direction of enforcement and its priorities. See Compliance Week (subscription required), “In unconventional move, SEC appoints Judge Margaret Ryan to lead Enforcement Division”