Career moves

Freddie Mac CEO David Moffett has submitted his resignation after running the troubled housing lender since only last September.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s chief auditor and director of professional standards, Thomas Ray, has resigned and plans to return to the private sector on March 6.

The American Institute of CPAs’ board of directors has extended Barry Melancon’s term as president and CEO for another five years.

As expected, the Senate approved Mary Schapiro by a unanimous vote as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Schapiro, who has a reputation as a tough-minded regulator, noted during the confirmation process that she planned to ramp up enforcement efforts at the SEC. She also proposed rethinking the current roadmap to U.S. adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, and expressed concerns about the resources and independence of the International Accounting Standards Board, which sets IFRS.She was formerly chief executive of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the securities industry's self-regulating body.

Big Four firm Ernst & Young named former Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual executive Michael Solender as its Americas vice chair and general counsel, effective February 24.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed former Public Company Accounting Oversight Board member Kayla Gillan as senior advisor to new Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Schapiro, effective immediately.

The Financial Accounting Foundation has chosen John J. Brennan, chairman of mutual fund giant Vanguard Group, as its new chairman and a member of its board of trustees.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed Robert Malhotra as a senior advisor in the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant.

Cougar Mountain Software has appointed Chuck Gossett as the accounting software company’s new president and CEO, succeeding his father.

KPMG has named John Veihmeyer as the new CEO of its U.S. member firm, KPMG LLP, as Timothy Flynn assumes the role of chairman of KPMG International’s newly formed Global Executive Team.

Former H&R Block Chairman and CEO Mark Ernst has taken a job with the Internal Revenue Service as deputy commissioner for operations support.

Steve Tait, president of H&R Block's accounting subsidiary RSM McGladrey, plans to resign, effective April 30.

The Senate has approved Mary Schapiro by a unanimous vote as the next Securities and Exchange Commission chairman.

KPMG has named a new chief information officer and a new leader of its tax restructuring and corporate recovery practice.

George Klaus, who served as president and CEO of Epicor Software from February 1996 to February 2008, has been named to those positions again, following the resignation of Thomas F. Kelly.

To see the report on Accounting Today's Top 100 People of 2008, click here.

The Center for Audit Quality has named Mary Moore Hamrick as director of external relations and strategic planning.

Sage North America has picked Motasim Najeeb as the accounting and business software company's new chief technology officer.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed James L. Kroeker as acting chief accountant, replacing Conrad Hewitt, who retired Monday.

Securities and Exchange Commission Chief Accountant Conrad Hewitt announced that he will leave the regulator as the Obama administration takes over. Also leaving will be John White, the director of the Division of Corporate Finance.SEC Chairman Christopher Cox had said previously that he will leave upon the change in administration.