Metra taps Benz as acting chief audit officer

Metra's board late last week named William Benz acting chief audit officer.

Benz, who previously served as Metra's associate general counsel, takes over an internal auditing role that had been handled by an outside firm since 2014. He'll retain his role as ethics officer, Metra officials said in a press release.

As chief audit officer, Benz is responsible for developing and implementing an annual risk assessment to identify and audit Metra's risk. In addition, he'll help the executive director's office and Metra departments follow passenger-rail industry best practices.

"We believe Mr. Benz is highly qualified to take on this critical function for Metra," said Metra Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Don Orseno. "He has the experience, background and independence to help Metra continue to strengthen its corporate governance, transparency and accountability."

Benz joined Metra in 2013 from the Office of Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor, where he served as assistant inspector general for the Regional Transit Board Division. Before that, he worked as an attorney in Washington, D.C., for a private law firm.