I want to thank the International Corporate Governance Network (“ICGN”) for inviting me to speak today [June 28, 2016] before this impressive international gathering, which represents some 47 countries with approximately $26 trillion under management. I am grateful to you and your many members for, among other things, commenting on our rule making projects and serving on the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (“PCAOB”) two advisory groups. I also want to thank CalPERS and CalSTRS for sponsoring this conference.
At the outset, I must state that the views I express are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board, any other Board member, or the staff of the PCAOB.
I have been asked to address the importance of the role of the auditor to the capital markets; the role of the PCAOB in investor protection; and to highlight a few issues that the Board is considering. Your input on these issues is extremely important to the Board.