The ACCA has elected several professionals to leadership positions within the membership body, while Chiene + Tait welcomes an industry veteran and Newby Castleman promotes from within.
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has elected its newest president, vice president and deputy president, diversifying the professional body’s leadership.
Jenny Gu will serve as president, breaking ground in the role as the ACCA’s first-ever female member from China to be elected president. Born and raised in Shanghai, Gu is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Richemont China, and has a prior 25 years of experience in multinational management consultancy.
“I am to make diversity and inclusion the main theme of my year in office,” said Gu. “ACCA has a proud record of creating opportunity in our profession, and I am passionate about encouraging diversity, including ensuring that women have the chance to contribute at the highest levels of business and government.”
Helping to support Gu, Dublin’s Orla Collins has been named vice president. Having joined ACCA in 1997, Collins has served on its global governing council since 2012. Alongside her vice president role, she will continue her work as Head of Compliance with Aberdeen Standard Investments Ireland Ltd.
“It is a thrill and a real honour to serve in this post,” Collins remarked. “It is humbling to think that colleagues from all over the world have vested their trust in me to take on this responsible task to work alongside the president and deputy president.”
That deputy president, Mark Millar, has also been a part of ACCA for years. Having qualified in 1980, Millar has worked in a variety of NHS-based finance roles, while also doing work for ACCA.
As the non-executive director of Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the chief executive of St Elizabeth Hospice, Millar brings a unique range of experience to the ACCA and will continue to serve in these roles during his deputy presidency.
Accountancy firm Chiene + Tait has named Dr Lena Wilson as its newest Chair, taking over from the firm’s first dedicated Tax Partner, Gavin Morton.
Dr Wilson brings a wide variety of experience to the role, capitalising on her 30 years of business experience across several countries. While in this role, she will continue in an advisory and ambassadorial role with The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo and Beatson Cancer Charity.
In her position with Chiene + Tait, Dr Wilson will support the firm’s 13 partners with a focus on the company’s growth and development.
Carol Flockhart, Managing Partner at Chiene + Tait, said: “Lena will play an important role in supporting us in the delivery of our ambitions over the next few years. As one of the most respected and accomplished business figures in Scotland, she has a wealth of experience across the global community as well as immense insight into the UK economy.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome her to the firm and I look forward to working closely with her as we continue growing our business.”
Midlands-based accountancy firm Newby Castleman has promoted its Audit Supervisor, Michael Frost, to Assistant Manager, following his eight years at the company.
Based in the firm’s Leicester office, Frost will work alongside company partners Paul Barnett and Joanne Chilton to supervise accounts and tax computations for both audit and non-audit clients, diversifying his current audit portfolio.
“It’s been a pleasure working with Michael over the last eight years as his knowledge, skills and experience have grown steadily, and his promotion to Assistant Manager is well-deserved,” Chilton said. “I have no doubt that Michael will settle into his new position with ease and continue to provide a friendly and forward-thinking service to our clients.”
