George Curtis Named Regional Director of the SEC's Central Regional Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2006-178

Washington, D.C., Oct. 19, 2006 - Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced the appointment of George Curtis as the Regional Director of the Commission's Central Regional Office (CRO). As Regional Director, Curtis will oversee the office's enforcement and examination functions in Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico. He is expected to assume his post in mid-November. Curtis succeeds Randall Fons, the former Regional Director, who left the Commission to enter private practice.

Chairman Cox said, "George Curtis is joining the Commission staff at a critical time. His legal and management experience in the private sector will bring an important perspective to our efforts to deal effectively with the current challenges facing the Commission. On behalf of the Commission, I welcome him to our team and I look forward to working with him."

SEC Director of Enforcement, Linda Thomsen stated, "I am very pleased that George Curtis has agreed to serve as Director of our Central Regional Office. He has a unique blend of knowledge of the federal securities laws and exposure to the Commission as a result of his distinguished career in the private practice of law. The Commission and the Central Regional Office will benefit from his considerable legal skills, intelligence, and experience."

Lori Richards, Director of the SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, added, "George's experience in the securities bar and his familiarity with the issues that are central to the work of the SEC will be enormously valuable in serving investors, and in the Central Region's oversight of securities firms in the region."

Mr. Curtis said, "I am honored to join the Commission during this challenging time and look forward to working closely with the Commission and its staff. I have dealt with the Commission and its staff on many occasions and have the highest regard for the work they do and the talent they bring to each engagement."

Curtis has been a partner in the Denver office of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher since 1984, having initially joined the firm in 1976. While he has spent the majority of his tenure with the firm in Denver, he also worked in the firm's Los Angeles and San Francisco offices. Curtis has extensive SEC enforcement defense experience as well as exposure to other complex government and regulatory civil litigation involving the Department of Justice, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and various self-regulatory organizations. He has represented clients at both state and federal levels, including before several Appellate Circuit Courts.

Curtis has been active in the national management of the firm having served as a member of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher's Executive Committee and Advisory Committee. He also has been the Partner-in-Charge of the firm's Denver office on two separate occasions.

Curtis earned his B.A. with honors in 1970 from Fordham University and a M.A. and Ph.D. in American Legal History from the University of Virginia in 1971 and 1973, respectively. He received his J.D. from the University of Chicago.

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2006-178.htm