Dr. Nayantara Hensel Named PCAOB Chief Economist, Director of Economic and Risk Analysis

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board today announced that Dr. Nayantara Hensel has been named the PCAOB’s Chief Economist and the Director of the Office of Economic and Risk Analysis. In this role, Dr. Hensel will advance the organization’s economic analysis, research programs, and risk and other policy analysis. This research and analysis will inform PCAOB activities, including standard-setting, inspection, and enforcement, to achieve the most effective outcomes to further investor protection and enhance audit quality. 

"The Board is committed to better leveraging economic and risk analysis to more effectively set standards, rules, and guidance,” said Chairman William D. Duhnke. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Hensel join our team and look forward to utilizing her deep knowledge and experience to enhance the Board’s oversight activities.”  

 Prior to joining the PCAOB, Dr. Hensel served as an Associate Director at the Federal Housing Finance Agency where she engaged in policy development and analysis, financial analysis, and research. She also previously served as the Chief Economist for the Department of the Navy where she provided economic guidance and forecasts on economic factors and played a significant role in defense industrial base issues.

Dr. Hensel has taught at Harvard University, the Stern School of Business at New York University, the Naval Postgraduate School, and National Defense University. She also served as Research Fellow at NBER and as the Pentagon Scholar in Residence.

Dr. Hensel received her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from Harvard University, where she graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa and specialized in economics and finance. She authored The Defense Industrial Base: Strategies for a Changing World and has written over 60 articles and research reports. She has appeared on CNBC, PBS, Fox Business TV, Voice of America, and Reuters TV, as well as has participated in a variety of radio interviews on ABC, CBS, NPR, Wall Street Journal Radio, Bloomberg Radio, AP, etc.