As noted here in Scuttlebutt, last week the SEC named Stephanie Avakian as the new Deputy Director of its Division of Enforcement. Avakian joins the SEC from law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, where she was vice chair of the firm's securities practice. In the mid-to-late 1990s, Avakian served as a branch chief with the SEC and as a counsel to SEC Commissioner Paul Carey.

The position of Deputy Director is the second-highest in the Enforcement Division, behind only the Director. It was created 20 years ago, in April 1994. 

The agency describes the position as one that "helps set enforcement priorities and supervise the civil law enforcement efforts of more than 1,200 SEC staff in 12 offices across the country." The Deputy Director also helps "oversee all investigative and litigation activities within the Enforcement Division, including the Office of Market Intelligence, Office of the Whistleblower, and five specialized units — Asset Management, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Market Abuse, Municipal Securities and Public Pension Funds, and Structured and New Products."

Avakian fills the vacancy that was created in June 2013 when David Bergers, the then-Acting Deputy Director, left the agency to join LPL Financial LLC. The complete timeline of SEC Enforcement Deputy Directors is, to my knowledge, as follows:

Stephanie Avakian (Deputy under Andrew Ceresney, May 2014-present)

David P. Bergers (Acting Deputy under George Canellos, January 2013 - June 2013)

George Canellos (Deputy under Robert Khuzami, April 2012 - January 2013)

Lorin Reisner (Deputy under Robert Khuzami, July 2009 - November 2011)

George Curtis and Scott Friestad (Deputies under Linda Chatman Thomsen, June 2008 - July 2009)

Peter Bresnan and Walter Ricciardi (Deputies under Linda Chatman Thomsen, October 2005 - January 2008 (Bresnan) and June 2008 (Ricciardi)

Linda Chatman Thomsen (Deputy under Steve Cutler, January 2002 - May 2005)

Steve Cutler (Deputy under Richard Walker, November 1998 - July 2001)

Colleen Mahoney (Deputy under Bill McLucas, April 1994- April 1998)

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