Andres G. Vinelli, Chief Economist, Standards and Risk Assessment, to Leave the PCAOB

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board today announced that Andres G. Vinelli, Chief Economist, Standards and Risk Assessment, is leaving the PCAOB after ten years of service. Dr. Vinelli led the cost-benefit analysis for all rulemaking and standard-setting and provided advice on risk assessment matters.

“Dr. Vinelli has made valuable contributions to the organization’s economic analysis initiatives over the past ten years,” said Chairman William D. Duhnke. "We appreciate his dedication to the PCAOB’s mission and wish him all the best in the future.”

When Dr. Vinelli joined the PCAOB as Chief Economist, he spearheaded the expansion of data analytics, quantitative risk models, and the development of macroeconomic analysis to identify areas of financial reporting risk on exchange-listed companies. He regularly briefed the Board on issues of macroeconomic risk and quantitative models. 

During his tenure, Dr. Vinelli pioneered and oversaw the program on cost-benefit analysis of new rules, including effects on investor protection, as well as efficiency, competition, and capital formation. This multidisciplinary perspective is now embedded in all new rules and professional standards from an early stage of development, including the analyses that led to the modernization of the auditor’s reporting model and the rule on audit transparency, providing for disclosure of engagement partners and other firms that participate in audits. He also managed the business intelligence and surveillance units and helped launch a multi-year technology reassessment initiative.

“It has been a distinct privilege to be a part of the PCAOB for the last ten years and work with a talented team of lawyers, economists, and accountants with a shared commitment to protecting investors,” said Dr. Vinelli. “I owe particular gratitude to Chairman Duhnke, former Chairman Doty, and the late Mark W. Olson, as well as all the Board members, for their leadership and support.”

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Dr. Vinelli was the Chief Economist of FINRA, the largest private-sector financial regulatory organization in the world. Previously, he was the Special Assistant to the Chairman and CEO of NASD, where he had an active role in the implementation of corporate strategy including the regulation of the NASDAQ market and broker-dealers.

Dr. Vinelli is also an Adjunct Professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, where he teaches the MBA course “Financial Markets and Crises." He received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Faculty Teaching.

Dr. Vinelli earned his B.A. in economics from Universidad de San Andrés and his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in public policy from Harvard University.