Andrew Petillon Named Associate Regional Director and Co-Head of Enforcement for the SEC's Pacific Regional Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2007-48

Washington, D.C., March 20, 2007 - The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today the appointment of Andrew G. Petillon as an Associate Regional Director for Enforcement in the Commission's Pacific Regional Office, located in Los Angeles.

In his new position, Mr. Petillon will serve as co-head, with Michele Wein Layne, of the Los Angeles office's enforcement program, which consists of a large staff of attorneys and accountants who investigate and prosecute federal securities law violations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Mr. Petillon, 46, is currently an assistant regional director in the Los Angeles office's investment adviser/investment company inspection program, where he has served since 2005. He has a total of over 21 years of experience at the Commission in different capacities, including as a branch chief and staff attorney in the Los Angeles office's enforcement program and as a staff attorney in the Commission's Division of Corporation Finance in Washington, D.C. In 2006, Mr. Petillon received the Commission's Supervisory Excellence Award based on his outstanding performance as both an enforcement branch chief and as an assistant regional director in the inspection program.

Linda Chatman Thomsen, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement, said, "Andrew is an outstanding lawyer with a deep background in the enforcement, investment management, and corporation finance arenas. His wealth of experience and considerable talent will be of enormous value as he helps to lead our enforcement program in Los Angeles."

Randall R. Lee, Director of the Commission's Pacific Regional Office, added, "Not only does Andrew have the proven ability to lead enforcement and inspection teams on challenging and complex matters, he is an accomplished manager whose thoughtful and collaborative approach is widely respected. I know he will be an outstanding manager and leader of our enforcement program, and I am delighted to welcome him into this important position."

During his tenure in enforcement at the SEC, Mr. Petillon investigated and/or supervised dozens of cases of nearly every type in all major program areas, including accounting and disclosure fraud, market manipulation, insider trading, misconduct by regulated entities, and investment fraud scams.

Some of the more noteworthy cases supervised or handled by Mr. Petillon include a complaint against Security Trust Company, N.A. and three former executives for facilitating and participating in fraudulent mutual fund late trading and market timing schemes; an action against Fidelity Brokerage Services for violating recordkeeping requirements and failing to reasonably supervise its employees; an emergency action against Security Brokerage, Inc. and its president, Daniel Calugar, for a late trading and market timing scheme; and significant cases against Portfolio Advisory Services and Renberg Capital Management involving best execution violations.

Mr. Petillon earned his bachelor's degree from Pomona College in 1982 and his law degree from Loyola Law School in 1985.

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2007/2007-48.htm