The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has appointed Charles Niemeier as acting replacement for William Webster, whose appointment was central to the downfall of Harvey Pitt.

Niemeier was previously chief accountant in the SEC's division of enforcement and co-chairman of the financial fraud task force. Webster, the 78-year old former head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, stood down as chairman of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in November less than three weeks after it was set up.