Rob Whiteman is chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA). Before joining CIPFA in September 2013, he was a senior civil servant who worked as chief executive of the UK Border Agency and had previously led the Improvement & Development Agency. Between 2005 and 2010 Whiteman was CEO of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Prior to this role, he was director of resources at the London Borough of Lewisham.

Whiteman is a well-known commentator and writer on public service reform and modernisation on a wide range of areas such as leadership, partnership working across local and central government, and building community cohesion. In 2007 and 2009 he carried out the Capability Reviews of the Department of Health for the Cabinet Office.

An accountant by profession, he has held several local government finance advisory roles for the Local Government Association and CIPFA, and for many years served as secretary to the Society of London Treasurers. www.cipfa.org.uk