Mary Moore Hamrick Leads PCAOB External Relations

The PCAOB Board announced today that Mary Moore Hamrick has been named Director of the newly established Office of External Relations, where she will lead the Board’s communications program.

The Offices of Public Affairs and Government Relations now are consolidated under the Office of External Relations, and report to Ms. Hamrick. To head those offices, the PCAOB also announced today that two new Deputy Directors have joined the Board: Colleen Brennan, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, and Kent Bonham, Deputy Director of Government Relations.

"Mary Moore Hamrick joined the PCAOB in Year One and has a rich understanding of the organization, its brief history, purpose, and potential. I have complete confidence that she will clearly communicate the PCAOB’s message to our many stakeholders and keep us well informed," said Mark Olson, PCAOB Chairman.

Ms. Hamrick, formerly the PCAOB Director of Government Relations, will be responsible for the PCAOB’s overall external relations program, which informs and seeks feedback from investors, auditors, policymakers and other interested parties about PCAOB activities. Now in its fifth year of operation, the PCAOB Board will aim to broaden its communications with investors of all types, as well as the Congress and other government representatives, the business community and the audit firms it supervises.

Colleen Brennan joins the public affairs team from the Washington, D.C.-based financial regulatory consulting firm, Promontory Financial Group, where she was Director of Communications. Earlier, at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, she served as Special Assistant to the Acting Comptroller and OCC Chief of Staff, and Special Assistant to the FDIC Chairman. Ms. Brennan received her AB from Cornell University, and MA from Columbia School of Journalism.

Kent Bonham joins the government relations team from Clark & Weinstock, Inc., a corporate advisory, lobbying, and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. Earlier, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. Mr. Bonham received his BA from Colby College, and MBA from Georgetown University.

"Reaching out to educate investors, auditors and policymakers, and to be educated by them, is this group’s important contribution in support of our supervisory goals," said Ms. Hamrick. "I look forward to working closely with Colleen, Kent and the rest of the External Relations staff to help fulfill the PCAOB’s mission as the Board carries out its congressional mandate."

Ms. Hamrick joined the PCAOB in 2003, from New York Life Insurance Co., where she was Vice President in charge of the Washington, D.C., governmental affairs office. She also served as Chairman of the American Council of Life Insurers’ Federal Legislative Strategy Group. Previously, Ms. Hamrick was Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, working on insurance and product safety issues, among others. Earlier, she worked at Morgan Stanley & Co. as an investments representative. She received her BA cum laude from Duke University and her JD and MBA from the University of North Carolina.

Mary Moore Hamrick can be reached at [email protected] or 202-207-9170.

Colleen Brennan can be reached at [email protected] or 202-207-9049.

Kent Bonham can be reached at [email protected] or 202-207-9168.