SEC Names New Director of Fort Worth Regional Office

David Peavler (Photo courtesy HD Vest)

The new director of the Security and Exchange Commission’s Fort Worth office is a familiar face, having served at the regional office previously as an associate director.

The agency named David Peavler the new director earlier this month. Peavler served for 15 years in various roles at the regional office’s Division of Enforcement before leaving in 2017 to serve as general counsel to HD Vest Inc.

During his prior stint at the SEC, Peavler led the agency’s efforts in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas. His investigations included cases against Royal Dutch Petroleum and The “Shell” Transport and Trading Company, a Ponzi scheme lead by a Houston-area businessman, and a fraud case involving Life Partners Holdings and three of its senior staff.  

“Mr. Peavler was integral to the issuance of the SEC’s Seaboard Report regarding cooperation, wherein the Commission declined to take action against a company in recognition of the company’s response to the conduct at issue,” the SEC’s announcement said. 

Peavler was also the recipient of the Irving M. Pollack Award, one of the SEC’s top awards for public service, and the Arthur F. Mathews Award, which recognizes creativity in applying federal securities laws.

“I am happy to welcome David back to the SEC to lead the Fort Worth Regional Office,” said SEC Chairman Jay Clayton.  “David’s prior leadership roles at the SEC combined with his experience in retail investor financial services will be invaluable in furthering the Fort Worth office’s investor protection efforts.”

“Under David’s prior enforcement leadership, the Fort Worth Regional Office brought numerous prominent investigations and enforcement actions, and we are confident that David will be an outstanding leader,” said Steven Peikin, Co-Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.

“With more than 20 years of securities litigation experience as well as providing legal guidance in-house in the highly regulated financial services industry, David has the unique combination of skills required to ably lead a regional office,” said Stephanie Avakian, Co-Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. 

“David has ample knowledge of and exposure to the operations and examination of registered entities, which he has gained through the investigation of numerous registrants while at the SEC,” said Pete Driscoll, Director of the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations. 

“It’s an honor to rejoin the SEC as Director of the Fort Worth Regional Office,” Peavler said. “I am excited to partner with the skilled and knowledgeable professionals in Fort Worth and across the agency as we work together to further the SEC’s mission.”

Peavler will take up his post with the SEC in early July.