The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Eric R. Werner has been named Regional Director of the Fort Worth Regional Office, effective immediately. Mr. Werner is currently the Acting Co-Regional Director and has served as the Associate Regional Director of Enforcement in the Fort Worth office since 2018. He succeeds David L. Peavler, who left the agency in December.

"I am pleased that Eric will head the Fort Worth Regional Office," said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. "In this new role, Eric will draw upon his wide range of experience from his more than 25 years with the SEC. I also would like to thank Marshall Gandy for serving as Acting Co-Director and for his continued work with the SEC."

"Throughout his remarkable public service career, Eric has proven himself as a skilled investigator, reliable mentor, and effective leader," said Gurbir Grewal, the SEC’s Director of Enforcement. "We are fortunate to have him leading the Fort Worth office and contributing to the Commission’s enforcement work across the Division."

"Eric is a strong leader with a proven commitment to ensuring investor protection and strengthening compliance," said Richard R. Best, Director of the SEC’s Division of Examinations. "I look forward to Eric joining our leadership team and helping to ensure the continued success of the Fort Worth’s examination program."  

Mr. Werner said, "I am honored to be able to lead the talented and dedicated staff of the Fort Worth office as we continue our mission of enhancing compliance and enforcing federal securities laws to protect investors."

As the new Regional Director, Mr. Werner will oversee more than 100 personnel, including attorneys, accountants, investigators, and securities compliance examiners who focus on enforcement actions and compliance examinations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas.

Mr. Werner has worked at the Commission for 26 years, including the last 18 years in the Fort Worth office. As the Regional Director, Mr. Werner will oversee more than 100 personnel, including attorneys, accountants, investigators, and securities compliance examiners who focus on enforcement actions and compliance examinations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas.

Prior to joining the Fort Worth office, Mr. Werner worked in the Division of Enforcement's Home Office as an investigative attorney and later in the Office of Chief Counsel. Mr. Werner’s has worked with the Complex Financial Instruments Unit, the Public Finance Abuse Unit, the Distributed Ledger Technology Working Group, and the Dark Web Monitoring Group. He holds a law degree from Washington University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Occidental College.