Top Expert on Accounting Scandals To Speak on Reform of Financial Reporting

ST. LOUIS -- John H. Biggs has been one of the leading voices for repairing the accounting and financial reporting scandals that have rocked Wall Street. He is a member of the blue-ribbon Conference Board, which has proposed changes in the makeup of corporate boards. Biggs was recently considered for the chairmanship of the new accounting oversight board established under the new Sarbanes-Oxley corporate-reform law. The decision by Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt to withdraw the nomination provoked a national outcry.

Biggs will be discussing the nation’s financial scandals and how to fix the problems during two appearances as part of the 11th annual James C. Millstone Memorial Lecture sponsored by the Saint Louis University School of Law.

On Sunday, March 16, Biggs will speak on “Enron, WorldCom, etc: A Few Bad Apples or the Tip of the Iceberg?” He will discuss his views on the financial reporting scandals of the past year and how they have affected investor views of corporate America. Edward Jones Managing Partner John Bachmann will be the commentator for the event. The speech will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Center of Contemporary Arts, 524 Trinity Ave. in University City.

On Monday, March 17, Biggs will join a panel of experts to discuss “Fixing America, Inc: How to Reform Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting.” He will join Saint Louis University law professor Thomas Greaney, SLU finance professor Michael Alderson, and economist and public policy expert Murray Weidenbaum of Washington University, on the panel. The discussion will be held at noon in the University’s Anheuser-Busch Auditorium in John and Lucy Cook Hall, 3674 Lindell Blvd.

John Biggs is the former chairman and CEO of Teachers Fund Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), and is a former member of the SEC Public Oversight Board. He is one of the most quoted authorities on repairing the nation’s corporate scandals.

Members of the University community are invited to attend the lectures.

For additional information call 977-3074, or email goldmanrl@slu.edu

[ Return to Top of Page ]