Sean McKessy has been named as the new head of the SEC’s Whistleblower Office in the Division of Enforcement. The Whistleblower Office was mandated under the whistleblower provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
As head of the office, McKessy will lead the new whistleblower program, “working with whistleblowers, handling their tips and complaints, and helping the Commission determine the awards for individuals who provide the agency with information that leads to successful enforcement actions,” the SEC stated.
McKessy previously served as Senior Counsel in the Division of Enforcement from 1997 to 2000. More recently, he was corporate secretary for both Altria Group, Inc. and AOL Inc., and securities counsel for Caterpillar, Inc.