As ICAEW prepares to roll out its refreshed strategy, the organisation has announced a series of senior leadership changes that underscore its commitment to relevance, resilience and impact in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. These appointments and departures reflect ICAEW’s focus on strengthening its capabilities and positioning the profession to thrive amid ongoing change.

Appointments

Iain Wright has been appointed Chief Policy and Communications Officer. In this role, he will lead ICAEW’s global policy and communications activity, ensuring a coordinated and influential voice across its advocacy, public affairs and external engagement.

Wright joined ICAEW in 2018 as Director for Business and Industrial Strategy and was promoted to Managing Director, Reputation and Influence, in 2021. A former MP, government minister and Chair of the Business Select Committee, he brings deep experience of the policy and regulatory landscape. He currently serves as Business Co-chair of the Professional and Business Services Council and is a member of the government’s Small Business Growth Forum.

Pamela Harding has been confirmed as Chief People Officer, following her interim appointment to the role in July 2024. She will lead the transformation of ICAEW’s organisational design and structure, strengthen its HR function and drive the people and culture elements of the refreshed strategy.

Harding brings a strong track record in building high-performing executive teams and delivering long-term business improvement in similar organisations.

Both Wright and Harding will report directly to ICAEW Chief Executive Alan Vallance.

Departures

At the same time, ICAEW has announced the forthcoming departure of two long-serving senior leaders.

Robert Hodgkinson, Senior Strategic Adviser, stepped down at the end of March 2025, concluding a distinguished ICAEW career spanning more than two decades. A member of the Institute since 1983, Hodgkinson first joined the Financial Reporting Committee in 1993, chairing it while a partner at Arthur Andersen. He became Technical Director in 2002, leading ICAEW’s Technical Strategy Department until 2021.

As Senior Strategic Adviser, Hodgkinson played a key role in shaping ICAEW’s refreshed strategy and led initial work on renewing the organisation’s Royal Charter – only the second time this has been done since 1880. He also represented ICAEW on the boards of Accountancy Europe and the International Federation of Accountants.

Bill Wilson, Director, IT and Facilities, will step down at the end of August 2025 after 35 years with the organisation. Since joining in 1990, Wilson has overseen major technological and infrastructure developments, including the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics through the Business Systems Transformation programme and ICAEW’s move to cloud-based computing.

Wilson led ICAEW’s IT response to the COVID-19 pandemic and played a central role in the refurbishment of Chartered Accountants’ Hall and its Heritage Rooms. His commitment to sustainability was instrumental in ICAEW becoming the first major professional body to achieve carbon neutrality.

Commenting on the changes, Alan Vallance, ICAEW Chief Executive, says: “I would like to congratulate both Iain and Pamela on their appointments. I look forward to working closely with them as we realign our internal operations for long-term success and more boldly use our voice to ensure chartered accountants remain at the forefront of relevant debates.

“I would also like to express my thanks to both Robert and Bill for their service to ICAEW over three decades. Their contributions have had a lasting impact on the organisation and I wish them all the very best for the future.”