FPSB makes key board changes

The Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) has announced several new appointments to its board of directors, as the body looks to promote worldwide professional standards in financial planning.

Commencing this month, FPSB board member Ana Cláudia Akie Utumi has been named chairperson of the FPSB board for a two-year term and will be succeeding Garry Muriwai.

First joining the board of directors as chairperson-elect in April 2021, Ms Utumi has more than three decades of experience in tax.

Namely, in addition to being a founding partner of her own tax specialty legal practice in Brazil, she is also a professor of tax law at the University IBDT in São Paulo, guest lecturer at the University of Zurich, a member of the practice council of the NYU School of Law International Tax Program, and member of the International Fiscal Association (IFA) Supervisory board.

Ms Utumi is also a founding board member of Planejar, FPSB’s affiliate organisation in Brazil.

Speaking on her appointment, Ms Utumi said: “It is an honour to step into the position of FPSB chairperson and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues of the board on our strategic priorities to advance the global profession and build awareness of the value and importance of financial planning, so more people around the world can access and benefit from it.”

Acknowledging her predecessor, she added that Mr Muriwai is an “exceptional leader and advocate for the financial planning profession”, pointing to his navigating the impacts of COVID-19 and overseeing FPSB’s first chief executive officer transition in 20 years during his time as chair.

Moreover, board member Andrea Middel has now been named chairperson-elect for a two-year term, alongside Caroline Dabu and Brett Millard having begun three-year terms on FPSB’s board of directors.

With Ms Middel most recently serving as chairperson of the FPSB professional standards committee (PSC), board member Darren McShane will be replacing her as PSC chair.

In his role, Mr McShane will take over the reins in overseeing the committee’s work in upholding the global standards and certification requirements and ensure CFP certification continues to be held in high regard.

“I’m pleased to welcome new board members, Caroline and Brett, and new leaders on FPSB’s governing body,” said FPSB CEO Dante De Gori.

Mr De Gori added that the new appointments have brought a variety of experience and knowledge from different parts of the world and will propel FPSB’s strategic priorities and mission forward.

“I look forward to working with them, our global network of organisations and our CFP professional community to advance the global financial planning profession, with CFP certification its symbol of excellence,” he concluded.