ICAEW announces Board-level executive appointments and changes to leadership team

Sharron Gunn has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) and will be responsible for the overall operational efficiency of the organization. She will oversee the majority of functions supporting ICAEW’s students and members including Learning and Development, Technical Strategy, Commercial, Digital, Brand, and Marketing. Sharron is currently ICAEW Executive Director for Members, Commercial and Shared Services. She joined ICAEW in 2001 from J Sainsbury's plc.

Dabinder Hutchinson becomes ICAEW’s first Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and will be responsible for the Finance, IT, Property, and Central Operations teams. Dabinder joined ICAEW last year as Director of Finance and Operations from the renewable energy sector.

The new appointments, which report to Chief Executive (CEO) Michael Izza, come as ICAEW re-aligns its management structure around a new 10-year strategy with its vision of a world of sustainable economies enabled by ICAEW Chartered Accountants.   

From 1 April 2021, the CEO, COO, and CFO roles will form the executive representation on the main ICAEW Board. Robert Hodgkinson, Executive Directive for Technical Strategy, will take on a new role as Senior Strategic Advisor, reporting to the CEO. He remains a member of ICAEW’s senior leadership team alongside Duncan Wiggetts, Chief Officer, Professional Standards. Vernon Soare, ICAEW’s current COO, and Mark Protherough, Executive Director for Learning and Professional Development, both leave the organization this month with ICAEW’s best wishes.

ICAEW Chief Executive, Michael Izza on these appointments shared, "Following a rigorous selection process involving ICAEW Council and Board members, I am delighted to announce the appointments of Sharron and Dabinder as our new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. Sharron and Dabinder have already achieved a great deal in their time at ICAEW and both have a deep understanding of the vital role our members play in supporting businesses and economies around the world. I congratulate them on their appointments and look forward to working with them to drive forward our new strategy."

She further said, “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Vernon Soare and Mark Protherough for their outstanding service and commitment as they move on from ICAEW, and I wish them well for the future.”

Sharron Gunn on her appointment shared, “I’m proud to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer and look forward to working with colleagues, students, and members to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the accountancy profession in the lead-up to ICAEW’s 150th anniversary in 2030. ICAEW Chartered Accountants will be at the forefront of ensuring a sustainable economic recovery post-COVID, while climate change and new technologies will continue to have far-reaching implications for our organization, members, and wider society.” 

Dabinder Hutchinson added, “I’m honored to be joining the ICAEW Board as the Institute’s Chief Financial Officer. The CFO is a critical role within any organization and I will continue to add value and challenge the business to achieve its strategy. Finance, IT, and Property are huge areas of focus for ICAEW over the next decade, and creating efficiencies and timely investments in these areas, while keeping an eye on the future, is vital.”

In a further change to the senior leadership team, ICAEW has also created four Managing Directors (MD). These are internal appointments and will report to the new COO, Sharron Gunn. The appointment includes David Franklin - MD, Belonging and Supporting, Hazel Garvey - MD, Education and Training, Iain Wright - MD, Reputation and Influence, and Mark Billington - MD, International.