FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          2001-121


     SEC CHAIRMAN HARVEY PITT ANNOUNCES THE SELECTION OF
     BRIAN J. GROSS AS FIRST DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS


     Washington, DC, October 25, 2001 – Securities and
Exchange Commission  Chairman Harvey L. Pitt today announced
the selection of Brian J. Gross as the Commission’s first
Director of Communications.  This position was recently
created to coordinate the framing of the Commission’s
policies and the communication of these policies to the
agency’s multiple constituencies.

     Among other responsibilities, Mr. Gross will assist the
Commission in managing its relationships with, and
communicating policies to, Congress and the Administration,
as well as other federal, state, and local agencies, foreign
regulatory bodies and the SEC’s regulatory constituents.
These include, the securities industry, corporate America,
the accounting profession, and public investors.  The
Communications Directorate will encompass, among other
things, the existing Offices of Congressional and
Intergovernmental Affairs; Public Affairs, Policy Evaluation
and Research; and Investor Education and Assistance.

     Prior to joining the Commission, Mr. Gross, 42, spent
over 19 years on Capitol Hill, first in the House of
Representatives, then as Director of Communications and
finally, Legal Counsel to Senator Phil Gramm.  For the past
three years, he served as Deputy Republican Staff Director
and Counsel to the Senate Banking Committee.

     Chairman Pitt said, “We are very fortunate to have
someone of Brian’s experience and talent take on this new
position.  Brian’s knowledge of the financial services
industry and the legislative process, as well as his
sensitivity to the need of our agency to maintain close
contact and act in harmony with a variety of constituencies,
make him well qualified to take on this critical position.”

     Mr. Gross received his undergraduate degrees in history
and economics from Texas A&M University and his law degree
from Georgetown University Law Center.



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