Mark W. Olson, Former Federal Reserve Board Governor, Joins Corporate Risk Advisors LLC as Co-Chairman
Mark W. Olson, Former Federal Reserve Board Governor, Joins Corporate Risk Advisors LLC as Co-Chairman
Washington, DC – September 22, 2009 – Corporate Risk Advisors LLC, a DC-based consulting, compliance, and strategic advisory firm specializing in the financial services industry, today announced that Mark W. Olson, former Federal Reserve Board Governor, President of the American Bankers Association, and most recently, Chairman of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), has joined the company as Co-Chairman.
“There is no more respected player in the financial services business than Mark Olson,” said Jeremiah S. Buckley, President of Corporate Risk Advisors. ”We are delighted that he has agreed not only to act as Co-Chairman of Corporate Risk Advisors, but to play an active role in consulting with our business clients. Mark can provide best-in-class guidance to companies as they navigate the changing regulatory and business environment in which financial services firms must operate today.”
“I have known and worked with Mark for many years,” said Andrew L. Sandler, Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Risk Advisors. “We share a common mission to help our clients navigate current challenges and future opportunities in the financial services business and are building the team to do that. Whether the need is related to risk, growth, economic climate, or general business strategy, Mark understands the business and regulatory challenges confronting the industry. No one can provide greater insights and advice. We are thrilled to have him on board.”
Mr. Olson’s distinguished career in financial services has spanned over 40 years and includes top-level executive positions in the public and private sectors. Mr. Olson joins Corporate Risk Advisors after three years as Chairman of PCAOB, an organization created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to protect investors through oversight of public company auditors. Prior to Mr. Olson’s tenure at PCAOB, he served as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Federal Open Market Committee. Prior to serving on the Federal Reserve Board, Mr. Olson served as Staff Director of the Securities Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The subcommittee’s legislative jurisdiction included the Securities and Exchange Commission, and accounting, securities and insurance policy issues in general. The full committee’s jurisdiction also included banking and other financial institution and monetary policy issues.
Mr. Olson’s government service followed more than a decade as a partner at Ernst & Young LLP, and its predecessor, Arthur Young & Company, where he became National Director of the firm’s Regulatory Consulting Practice for the Financial Services Industry. Mr. Olson began his career in the banking industry in 1966, when he spent four years at First Bank System (now US Bancorp) in Minnesota. He subsequently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Security State Bank in Fergus Falls, MN. During this phase of his banking career, Mr. Olson became actively involved in developing legislative policy for the banking industry. This involvement culminated with his 1986 election as President of the American Bankers Association (ABA).
“At a time when the world is more complex than ever, I am delighted to join and help expand this group of capable professionals,” said Mr. Olson. “Their experience, knowledge, and commitment to solving problems from the client’s perspective are just a few of the reasons why I wanted to contribute to this team’s efforts. I look forward to working with them in providing strategic solutions and fresh alternatives to members and businesses in the financial services community.”
Mr. Olson holds a BA in economics from Saint Olaf College in Minnesota and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2003.
About Corporate Risk Advisors LLC
Corporate Risk Advisors, based in Washington, DC, is a multi-disciplinary consulting and strategic advisory firm for the financial services industry. With clients in banking and finance, securities and investment, mortgage and specialty finance, insurance, and payments processing, Corporate Risk Advisors’ team of experienced executives provide best-in-class advice in areas including crisis management, regulatory compliance, business consulting, acquisition strategy, corporate governance, fair lending, due diligence, bank financial analytics, and litigation support. For more information, visit www.corpriskadvisors.com.
