With leadership change, SEC Enforcement should pick up the pace (IGNITES)


In its latest fiscal year, the SEC had 22 percent fewer enforcement cases than in its prior fiscal year, according to SEC statistics. With a change at the top of its Enforcement Division this past April, the SEC may finally be moving toward increasing its enforcement case load after a downward trend. The new Director of Enforcement, David Woodcock, has prior SEC experience, unlike his predecessor Judge Margaret Ryan, who abruptly left the agency after six months on the job. Amy Lynch, FrontLine’s Founder and President, comments that SEC Chair Atkins knew he had to pick a strong securities industry veteran that made sense following the unusual choice of Ryan and the bad press surrounding her departure. With a diminished staff at the SEC, Woodcock has been tasked with fulfilling Atkins’ goals for Enforcement, particularly pursuing cases that involve investor harm. See IGNITES (subscription required), “Woodcock a Better Fit as SEC Enforcement Head: Industry”