Financial officer at Getty steps down

Bradley W. Wells, the Getty Trust’s top financial officer through a spell of scandal over its top executive’s spending habits, has resigned.

Wells gave no reason in stepping down from his post as vice president of finance and administration. But his departure, effective Aug. 23, follows several other resignations among top officials, including Getty Trust President Barry Munitz in February and board Chairman John Biggs earlier this month.

The Getty has been the focus of a state attorney general’s investigation since last summer, with results expected in coming weeks.

Like Munitz before him, Wells came to the Getty from the California State University system. He first joined the Getty in 1998 as associate director of program analysis and planning, left in 1999 and then returned in 2001.

Getty documents show that from 2001 until at least last year, Wells’ responsibilities included approval of expense accounts filed by Munitz, his boss. Those expense accounts have been a focus in the state probe, sources have said, because of Munitz’s lavish use of Getty resources for personal benefit.

- Christopher Reynolds