William Ryan Named Acting Director of the PCAOB’s Division of Enforcement and Investigations

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) today announced that William Ryan has been named Acting Director of the PCAOB’s Division of Enforcement and Investigations. In this role, he will oversee and direct the PCAOB’s investigations and enforcement of violations of its rules, professional standards, and other applicable securities regulations. Mr. Ryan will assume the role following current PCAOB Enforcement Director Robert E. Rice’s retirement on December 31, 2025.

Before his appointment as the division’s Acting Director, Mr. Ryan was the Enforcement Division’s Chief Counsel, a role to which he was named in 2023. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to become a division Deputy Director in 2012. Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton. He holds a B.A. from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

“Enforcement is integral to the PCAOB fulfilling its mission to protect investors by holding firms and individuals accountable for compliance with the PCAOB’s standards, rules, and applicable laws, and deterring misconduct,” said PCAOB Acting Chair George R. Botic. “Throughout his many years at the PCAOB, Bill has done outstanding work to advance the PCAOB’s enforcement efforts, and we are fortunate that we can call on him now to step in as DEI’s Acting Director.”

Mr. Rice joined the PCAOB as Enforcement Director in March 2023. During his tenure, the PCAOB took enforcement action on a wide range of matters and issues posing risk to investors in U.S. markets, including the organization’s first settled orders involving mainland China and Hong Kong auditors attributable to the access the PCAOB secured in 2022 to inspect and investigate firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong.

“We thank Bob for his notable service at the PCAOB and wish him well in his retirement and future endeavors,” said Acting Chair Botic.

Learn more about the PCAOB’s enforcement program on the PCAOB website. 

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About the PCAOB

The PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies in order to protect investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. The PCAOB also oversees the audits of brokers and dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including compliance reports filed pursuant to federal securities laws.