Former Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement and Investigations Mark A. Adler to Leave the PCAOB

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) today announced that Mark A. Adler, former Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement and Investigations, will leave the PCAOB after more than nine years of service.

"We are extremely grateful for Mark's dedicated service to the PCAOB," said PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke. "During his time with the organization, Mark has exhibited a deep commitment to helping us effectively execute one of our key oversight responsibilities."

"It has been an honor for me to work with such extraordinarily talented and dedicated colleagues in the Division and throughout the PCAOB," Mr. Adler said. "I appreciate the confidence the Board placed in me and am particularly proud of what the Division staff accomplished during my tenure as Acting Director."

In December 2010, Mr. Adler joined the PCAOB as Deputy Chief Trial Counsel. He was promoted to Deputy Director, Chief Trial Counsel in May 2014. In these roles, Mr. Adler oversaw and litigated complex enforcement proceedings.

Mr. Adler served as Acting Director of the Division from June 2018 to January 2020. During his tenure, the Division brought significant cases that addressed serious auditor misconduct at large and small audit firms involving both U.S. and non-U.S. auditors. The cases included significant audit violations involving a lack of due care and professional skepticism, breaches of auditor independence rules, improper alterations to audit documentation, and non-cooperation with PCAOB inspectors. Mr. Adler also represented the PCAOB in the Enforcement Working Group of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators, leading workshops on a variety of enforcement topics.

Before joining the PCAOB, Mr. Adler worked for 13 years at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the Division of Enforcement, where he served as both Acting Chief and Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel. During his SEC tenure, he litigated and advised on a wide range of matters, including complex financial fraud, insider trading, offering fraud, and emergency relief cases.

Mr. Adler spent more than nine years at the Department of Justice where he investigated, prosecuted, and tried major white collar criminal cases. Early in his career, Mr. Adler handled civil litigation and other general commercial matters in private practice in New York.

Mr. Adler earned his B.S.E. in computer science and applied mathematics, summa cum laude, from Tufts University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.