ICAEW has appointed Vernon Soare, currently executive director for professional standards, as the institute’s new chief operating officer, the first time there has been a named postholder in this role for ten years
Soare will co-ordinate the overall operational efficiency of ICAEW taking on specific responsibility for financial management, information technology, property services and marketing.
He will continue to be responsible for public sector and capacity building. Internationally, Soare will also continue to be responsible for the Middle East, South Asia and Africa region as well as taking the lead for countries not covered by ICAEW’s regional offices.
The last time ICAEW had a designated COO was ten years ago, when the post was held by Michael Izza who is the current chief executive. An ICAEW spokesman said the latest move would allow Soare to focus on operational effectiveness, while Izza focused on a front-facing role with the institute’s stakeholders.
Izza said: ‘In the ten years since he joined ICAEW, Vernon has achieved a huge amount. He has led our move into legal services with ICAEW’s appointment as an approved regulator and licensing authority for probate services. He has also been responsible for the creation of the new ICAEW regulatory board. I congratulate him on his new appointment and look forward to working closely with him in his new role.’
Soare said: ‘ICAEW has changed a lot over the last ten years, making the transition to an international body headquartered in the UK. We’re now completing our strategy review which will set out the direction we take in the next ten years. It’s an exciting time to take on this new role and with the challenge it will provide.’
Sharron Gunn, currently executive director commercial, will take on responsibility for the support of ICAEW’s members in the UK and internationally with her role changing to executive director members, commercial and shared services. She will continue to lead on ICAEW’s digital agenda and have responsibility for Greater China.
ICAEW has said it will be recruiting for a new executive director for professional standards in due course.
Soare’s background is in public sector audit. Prior to joining ICAEW, he worked for the London boroughs of Wandsworth and Merton, the Audit Commission and CIPFA.
