The SEC has named Karol L.K. Pollock as the new associate director of the exam program in the Los Angeles office, succeeding Martin Murphy, who retired earlier this year after more than 36 years of public service. After Murphy’s retirement, Pollock was named the acting director until a replacement was found, SEC officials said.
Pollock has nearly 25 years of experience in securities enforcement and examination regulation at the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and New Mexico Securities Division as well as in the private sector, officials said.
She has worked in the SEC’s Los Angeles office for the past 10 years, starting as a staff attorney in the enforcement division and later serving as a branch chief. In 2009, she became assistant director of the exam program, and was named deputy associate director last year.
Pollock oversees a staff of approximately 60 examiners, accountants, and attorneys responsible for examining firms in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and Guam, officials said.
“Karol has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting investors and our capital markets in a way that is fair, creative, and effective,” said Andrew Bowden, director of the SEC’s National Exam Program, in a prepared statement.
During her tenure, Pollock has been involved in many SEC enforcement actions, including a 2008 case against five former San Diego city officials involved in inadequate municipal securities disclosures, officials said. She also helped litigate a case against the former CEO and former chief financial officer (CFO) of Gemstar-TV Guide International for their roles in a widespread and complex scheme to inflate licensing and advertising revenues.
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