SEC Gets Chief for Unit Overseeing IPOs, Corporate Disclosures

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins tapped a key player for his leadership team Wednesday, appointing a corporate attorney to head the unit tasked with reviewing initial public offerings and scrutinizing company disclosures.

James Moloney, a partner at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, will head the SEC’s division of corporation finance starting next month, the SEC said. He had worked at the SEC from 1994 to 2000 on mergers and acquisitions and in the division of corporation finance.

The division combs through corporate financial reports to ensure businesses report risks to investors. The staff also issues ...