KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has appointed Andrew Harding as chief executive.
 
Andrew joined CIMA in 2009 as executive director, becoming managing director two years later. His appointment as the Chief Executive comes shortly after CIMA’s members voted to join forces with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and create a new Association. When it launches in 2017 Andrew will become Chief Executive Officer of its management accounting unit and will be responsible for driving the impact of management accounting across the world.
 
Andrew said: “It’s a huge privilege to be appointed chief executive as we enter this new chapter in CIMA’s history. To be combining the power of management accounting and public accounting for the first time through the power of the Association is so exciting.”
 
When launched in 2017, the Association will be become the largest body of professional accountants in the world representing over 600,000 current and next-generation professionals. The Association evolved from the joint venture between CIMA and the AICPA in 2012 which created the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation.
 
The benefit of the Association for current and future members in the SE Asia region is their greater recognition and employability not only in the region but also around the world. By integrating the strategy, management and operations of both CIMA and AICPA, we will become a more resilient, efficient and a stronger organisation to better serve our members. 
 
Andrew added: “The opportunity presented by the U.S. market is huge and will be a prime focus of the management accounting unit as we position management accounting as a top career choice for graduates in the world’s largest economy.”
 
Andrew succeeds the previous chief executive, Charles Tilley. Charles stepped down on 31 July after fifteen years at the helm of CIMA. He will now focus on running the newly-created CGMA Research and Practice Foundation.
 
Andrew will be supported by Irene Teng, Executive Director of Markets (Europe, Africa and Asia) who was promoted from her previous role as Regional Director, Asia Pacific. Irene joined CIMA in 2010 as Regional Director, South East Asia and subsequently become Regional Director, Asia Pacific in 2015. As Executive Director of Markets, Irene is responsible for leading the global market activities and delivering key results with the Regional Directors of the respective regions.