Under the Code of Corporate Governance for Publicly-listed companies, which officer must appear before the SEC when summoned in relation to compliance?

• A. Chairman of the Board
• B. Chief Executive Officer
• C. Corporate Secretary
• D. Compliance Officer

Answer: (D)

The role being tested is the person responsible for overseeing and ensuring adherence to all laws, regulations, and governance standards within the company. The Compliance Officer is the designated person who monitors the company’s compliance program, keeps records, and coordinates with regulators. When the SEC summons the company over compliance matters, this officer is best positioned to testify about the program’s design, implementation, and effectiveness, provide precise information on regulatory compliance, and outline any corrective actions taken. While the Corporate Secretary handles statutory filings and governance documentation and the top leaders (chairman or CEO) provide overall leadership, the Compliance Officer specifically bears the ongoing responsibility for compliance, making them the appropriate representative for such inquiries.