On January 20, the SEC appointed Keith E. Cassidy as Director of its Division of Examinations (EXAMS). Cassidy had served as Acting Director of EXAMS since May 2024 and previously held several senior roles within the division, including Deputy Director, Acting Co-Director, and National Associate Director of the Technology Controls Program.
During his tenure as Acting Director, Cassidy led initiatives aimed at strengthening the SEC’s national examinations program. These included the development of an examination projection model to enhance risk-based resource allocation and the adoption of a metric-driven framework to improve operational effectiveness.
Cassidy joined EXAMS in 2017 to lead the Technology Controls Program, overseeing technology-focused examinations as well as the SEC’s CyberWatch Program and Cybersecurity Program Office. Earlier in his SEC career, he served as Director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. Before joining the SEC in 2010, Cassidy held senior legislative roles at the Department of Justice and worked as an attorney in the U.S. Senate.
“Keith has demonstrated steady leadership and a commitment to risk-based, technology-informed oversight,” said SEC Chair Paul Atkins. “His experience modernizing examination practices, strengthening operational metrics, and enhancing resource allocation positions the division to further its mission to prevent fraud, promote compliance, monitor risk, and inform policy on behalf of investors.”based, technologyinformed oversight,” said SEC Chair Paul Atkins. “His experience modernizing examination practices, strengthening operational metrics, and enhancing resource allocation positions the division to further its mission to prevent fraud, promote compliance, monitor risk, and inform policy on behalf of investors.”
In a statement, Cassidy said his priorities as Director will include refining processes that enhance coordination across the SEC and ensuring alignment within the national examinations program. He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue working with SEC staff to protect investors and strengthen U.S. markets.
In addition to his new role, Cassidy serves as the SEC’s senior staff representative to several interagency and international bodies, including the Financial Banking Information Infrastructure Committee, the Cyber Incident Response Council, and the G7 Cyber Experts Group, and acts as the Commission’s federal senior intelligence coordinator.