The US Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed David Woodcock as director of its division of enforcement, effective May 4, as lawmakers question the exit of his predecessor.
Woodcock will replace acting director Sam Waldon, who will lead the division until the transition is completed.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins said:
“The agency is restoring Congressional intent by prioritising cases that provide meaningful investor protection and strengthen market integrity.”
Woodcock, currently a partner at Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, previously led the SEC’s Fort Worth office from 2011 to 2015 and now chairs the firm’s Securities Enforcement Practice Group.
His appointment comes as US senators seek clarity on the SEC’s decision to drop lawsuits involving crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun and several digital asset firms.
Woodcock said he intends to “execute the Chairman’s vision,” signalling continuity in enforcement priorities while the agency faces heightened political and regulatory scrutiny.
The leadership change underscores a critical moment for the SEC as it navigates enforcement strategy, particularly in crypto markets, where regulatory direction remains closely watched by investors and industry participants.