Patrick Bryan Named PCAOB Director of the Division of Enforcement and Investigations

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board today announced that Patrick Bryan has been named the PCAOB's Director of the Division of Enforcement and Investigations. In this role, Mr. Bryan will advance the organization's investigations and litigation of violations of PCAOB rules and other applicable securities regulations.

"The Board is committed to prioritizing enforcement and investigative efforts to address issues that pose the greatest risk to investors and are most likely to deter improper conduct," said PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke. "We are fortunate to have Patrick join the PCAOB and look forward to leveraging his significant experience to enhance the Board's oversight activities to improve audit quality."

Mr. Bryan currently serves as the Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System where he led a system-wide transformation of the enforcement function, its priorities, and staff. Previously, Mr. Bryan served as a Supervisory Assistant Chief Litigation Counsel in the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission where he managed investigations and prosecutions of complex enforcement actions, many of which involved allegations of accounting or auditing misconduct. He also spent more than ten years in private practice on complex commercial disputes including in the area of financial fraud.

"I am honored to lead the PCAOB's Division of Enforcement and Investigations," said Mr. Bryan. "Enforcement is crucial to the organization's mission, and I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Board to enforce accountability of PCAOB standards and rules, and related federal securities laws."

Mr. Bryan earned his B.A. and J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University of Chicago.

The Board thanks the PCAOB's current Acting Director and Chief Trial Counsel, Mark Adler, for his leadership as Acting Director. Under his direction, the Division of Enforcement and Investigations has issued numerous settled orders to hold registered firms and their associated persons accountable for engaging in improper conduct. Mr. Adler will resume his role as Deputy Director and Chief Trial Counsel upon Mr. Bryan's arrival, expected in January 2020.