SEC Names George Botic Acting PCAOB Chair After Williams Resigns

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has appointed George Botic as acting chair of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), effective July 23, 2025, following the resignation of Erica Williams on July 22. Williams, the first woman and person of color to chair the PCAOB, was asked to step down by SEC Chair Paul Atkins, a Trump appointee, amid a shift in regulatory approach. Botic, a Certified Public Accountant with long-standing experience at the PCAOB since 2003, previously directed the Division of Registration and Inspections and has served in advisory roles under former chairs, making his selection a move towards continuity and experience. During her tenure, Williams pursued an aggressive enforcement agenda, including historic access to Chinese audit firms, but faced opposition, leading to her departure under the new SEC leadership. The PCAOB oversees audits of public companies and broker-dealers under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, with the SEC responsible for appointing its members and chair. Botic expressed his commitment to uphold the PCAOB’s mission and work closely with the SEC and PCAOB staff in his new role.