Peter Kiernan, Deputy Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, Retires from SEC After 40 Years of Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2008-308

Washington, D.C., Dec. 31, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that Peter S. Kiernan, Deputy Director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, is retiring from public service after more than 40 years working at the agency where he was a key liaison between the Commission and the Congress.

“Peter’s career at the SEC has spanned more than half of the agency’s lifetime, and he will be sorely missed,” said William Schulz, Director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. “He has been the backbone of our office for decades, and the Commission and the Congress have benefited enormously from his extensive knowledge of the securities laws and the legislative process, his deep understanding of all facets of the Commission’s activities, and his sound judgment and good humor.”

Mr. Kiernan said, “I will miss the Commission and the many friends both here and on the Congressional staffs who have been so helpful to me. I will be following the Commission’s work from a bit more of a distance now, but I know that the SEC and my colleagues here, past and present, will never be totally out of my thoughts after all of my time here.”

The SEC’s Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs carefully monitors ongoing legislative activities and initiatives on Capitol Hill that affect the Commission and its mission, and works with Members of Congress and their staffs to achieve legislative policy goals. Mr. Kiernan served under 14 SEC chairmen and 17 directors of legislative affairs during his tenure at the agency. Today is his final day of work at the SEC.

Mr. Kiernan has worked his entire professional career at the SEC, joining the agency as a staff attorney in the now-Division of Investment Management directly upon graduation from the University of Virginia Law School in 1968. He later became the Legal Assistant to then-Commissioner Hugh F. Owens, and then an Assistant Director in the Division of Investment Management before becoming a Legislative Counsel to the Commission in 1976. He has worked in the legislative affairs area ever since, most recently as Deputy Director.

Mr. Kiernan graduated from Yale College in 1963 and Harvard Business School in 1965.

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2008/2008-308.htm