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Chief Executives and Secretaries

This page lists the leadership of the ICAEW, currently called the Chief Executive, but previously the Secretary General or Secretaries.

Chief Executives

  • 2024 - date: Alan Vallance

    Appointed: October 2023 (took up position on 2 April 2024)

    Previous roles:  Chief Executive of the Chartered Insurance Institute;  Chief Executive of the Royal Institute of British Architects; Group Chief Operating Officer at the Law Society

    Accountancy firms associated with: Ernst & Whinney

  • 2006 - 2024: Michael Izza
    Appointed: October 2006, took up position on 6 December 2006. Retirement announced in March 2023 and left at the end of March 2024.

    Previous roles:
    ICAEW Chief operating officer 2004-06; Executive director Finance and Operations 2002-03

    Accountancy firms associated with:
    Coopers & Lybrand
  • 2003 - 2006: Eric Anstee

    Appointed: July 2003, took up position September 2003. Retirement announced 20 June 2006.

    Previous roles: Finance director, Old Mutual plc; Group Finance Director at The Energy Group plc

    Accountancy firms associated with: Keens. Shay Keens; Ernst & Young

Secretary Generals

  • 2002 - 2003: Peter Owen

    Appointed: March 2002. Retired 5 September 2003.

    Previous roles: ICAEW Executive director 1998-2002; Senior civil service rolls with Department of Education Cabinet Office, Department for the Environment

    Accountancy firms associated with:
    N/A

  • 1997 - 2002: John Collier
    Appointed:  Appointed on temporary basis in November 1997, confirmed on permanent basis in June 1998Resigned March 2002.

    Previous roles:
    Finance director, Earth Centre; Chief Executive, Newcastle Initiative; Chief Executive, Lowes Group plc

    Accountancy firms associated with:
    Price Waterhouse

Secretaries

  • 1990 - 1997: Andrew Colquhoun
    Appointed: July 1990. Resigned November 1997.

    Previous roles:
    HM Diplomatic Service; Principal, Cabinet Office; Shandwick Consultants. Director of Education & Training ICAEW.

    Accountancy firms associated with:
    N/A
  • 1983 - 1990: Ernest Warne

    Appointed:  Secretary designate August 1982. Took up position 1 January 1983. Retired, 

    Previous roles:  Board of Trade; Department of Trade and Industry; Deputy director-general Office of Fair Trading

    Accountancy firms associated with:  N/A

  • 1972 - 1982: John Hough

    Appointed:  1 January 1972. Retired 31 December 1982.

    Previous roles:  Co-founder London Computer Group (later the British Computer Society); IBM (UK); 

    Accountancy firms associated with: M R Corbett; Derbyshire & Co; Turquand Youngs & Co; Robson, Morrow & Co.

  • 1965 - 1971: Cecil Evan-Jones

    Appointed:  1 Nov 1962 (joint with Frank Wilkinson), 1 January 1965 (on retirement of Wilkinson). Retired: 31 December 1971

    Previous roles:  Gordon Highlanders, Deputy Secretary of The Society of Incorporate Accountants; Assistant Secretary ICAEW; Under-secretary ICAEW

    Accountancy firms associated with:  N/A

  • 1962 - 1965: Frank Wilkinson / Cecil Evan-Jones

    Appointed:  1 November 1962. Frank Wilkinson retired through ill health 31 December 1964.

    Previous roles (Wilkinson):  Middlesex Yeomanry (TA); Assistant Secretary ICAEW, Deputy Secretary ICAEW

    Accountancy firms associated with (Wilkinson):  'articles in a small provincial practice'

  • 1950 - 1962: Alan MacIver
  • 1935 - 1950: Robert Bankes
  • 1899 - 1935: George Colville
  • 1880 - 1899: Walter Howgrave

See also

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