The Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed Shelley Parratt to serve as acting director of the Division of Corporation Finance. Parratt replaces John White, who left the Commission last week to return to private practice.

Parratt has served as Deputy Director of the Division since 2003 and has been responsible for overseeing the disclosure review program, assisting in strategic planning, and developing Division policies and procedures. Among her many accomplishments in this position, Parratt:

• Led the Division in revamping its disclosure review program to meet its mandate under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to review on a regular and systematic basis the disclosures of the approximately 12,000 reporting companies the Division oversees. Oversaw the Division’s review projects on IFRS and executive compensation disclosure and subsequent staff reports on these reviews.
• Developed and implemented a procedure to make publicly available the staff comment letters and company responses related to Division reviews of filings.
• In response to recent market events, led the Division in issuing staff guidance for financial institutions filing proxy statements in connection with the TARP Capital Purchase Program, as well as “Dear CFO” letters providing guidance on MD&A disclosure issues for companies’ consideration.

Parratt, who joined the Division of Corporation Finance as a financial analyst in 1986, also has served in a number of other senior positions, including associate director, assistant director, and branch chief.