The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Ken C. Joseph, Head of Investment Adviser/Investment Company Examination Program in the New York Regional Office, is planning to leave the agency.
Since 2012, Mr. Joseph has led a team of over 130 accountants, examiners, attorneys, and support staff responsible for the examination of investment companies and investment advisers in New York and New Jersey. During that time, the IA/IC Examination Program in the New York Regional Office has steadily increased the number of exams of investment advisers and investment companies and has made many changes that have led to a more efficient and effective examination program.
Before joining the National Exam Program, Mr. Joseph started at the SEC as a Law Clerk. He went on to serve as an Assistant Director in the SEC’s Enforcement Division, New York. When the division was reorganized in 2010, he joined the newly formed Asset Management Unit.
During his tenure with the Enforcement Division, Mr. Joseph investigated a wide array of alleged violations of the federal securities laws, including those involving financial fraud, auction rate and subprime securities, credit default swaps, reinsurance transactions, hedge funds, private equity funds, Ponzi schemes, special purpose entities, auditors, investment advisers, investment companies, self-regulatory organizations, transfer agents, and broker-dealers.
“Throughout his over two decade career at the SEC, Ken has served the Commission with dedication, leadership and integrity,” said Pete Driscoll, Acting Director of the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations. “We and the investing public have greatly benefitted by his outstanding stewardship of the IA/IC Examination Program in New York and his commitment to the SEC’s mission.”
“Ken is the quintessential public servant, who has worked tirelessly for investors these last 21 years. He is, without a doubt, one of the most gifted and talented managers I have ever encountered – a true visionary with a mighty work ethic who has spent night and day thinking about how to do his job better,” said Andrew M. Calamari, Director for the SEC’s New York Regional Office. “After a stellar enforcement career, Ken took on leadership of our investment management program and in five short years transformed the program in many positive ways including innovative ideas and changes that contributed to the National Exam Program. It has been my privilege to serve with Ken, and I will miss him greatly.”
Mr. Joseph said, “It has been a privilege and an honor to be entrusted with ever increasing responsibility for fulfilling the Commission’s mission. I have been fortunate to work cooperatively and collegially with professionals, all of whom have been bound by our deep commitment to public service. I also wish to acknowledge the support my teams have received over the years from law enforcement partners at the state, local and federal levels.”
Under Mr. Joseph’s supervision, the examination team has referred a number of impactful matters to the Division of Enforcement, which resulted in the payment of significant disgorgement and penalties. These impactful actions included:
- In the Matter of Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. et al., which resulted in the payment of $9.5 million in monetary relief stemming from alleged anti-fraud violations based on alleged failure to monitor client accounts and to disclose conflicts in selecting mutual fund share classes for clients.
- Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, which resulted in $13 million in monetary relief for alleged overcharges to clients of more than $16 million and alleged violations of the custody rule and compliance rule.
- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. for alleged violations of the anti-fraud rules and for alleged misallocation of broker-dealer expenses, which resulted in monetary relief of $30 million for alleged misallocation of broken deal expenses.
- Barclays Capital Inc., for alleged anti-fraud violations based on alleged overbilling of advisory fees and excess mutual fund sales charges, which resulted in $97 million monetary relief.
Mr. Joseph earned his B.S., M.B.A., and post-graduate degrees from St. John’s University, New York, and his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law.