The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) Whistleblower Office announced the appointment of a new leader on February 18, 2011. Sean McKessy will head the new whistleblower office in the Division of Enforcement. Administration of whistleblower provisions required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will be performed by this office. Mr. McKessy was most recently corporate secretary at AOL Inc. and Altria Group Inc. Prior to that, he was senior counsel at the SEC's Division of Enforcement and Securities Counsel for Caterpillar, Inc.
Mr. McKessy said, "I am excited to return to public service and rejoin the dedicated staff of the Enforcement Division in this critical role. Whistleblowers often provide invaluable information that can help uncover securities fraud and protect investors."
Mr. McKessy's experience includes the development and supervision of internal compliance programs associated with federal securities laws. Additionally, he has been a corporate compliance officer and has been responsible for coordinating the reporting of violations to boards of directors.
"Sean is uniquely positioned to oversee the Commission's whistleblower program," said Robert Khuzami, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement. "The Enforcement Division and whistleblowers alike will greatly benefit from Sean's first-hand experience in bringing enforcement cases, handling whistleblower complaints and understanding the workings of internal corporate compliance programs."
Source:
Sean McKessy Named Head of Whistleblower Office, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, February 18, 2011
