Wedbush Securities Inc. has hired Andrew Druch, a veteran in-house leader in the financial industry, as its first executive vice president and general counsel. 

Druch joins Wedbush Securities a month after the financial services firm paid more than $8.1 million to settle charges for allegedly mishandling pre-released American Depositary Receipts. The firm, which is a subsidiary of Wedbush Inc., is among 11 banks and brokers that have grappled lately with related charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.