The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has appointed John Thornton as its 39th president, succeeding Vernon Anderson in the role.
Thornton will remain president until September 2020, with David Frederick serving as vice president.
Thornton has had a long career in accountancy, including being a spokesman and main policy analyst on Housing, Higher Education and Performance Measurement for The Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) in the early 1980s.
Since then, he has worked in director and managing director roles at firms including the Institute of Public Finance, the Improvement and Development Agency and e-ssential Resources, a consultancy firm he founded in 2005.
He is an independent adviser and writer on business transformation, innovation and finance, and has board level experience in both the public and private sectors.
Thornton said: “I am extremely proud to have been elected president of AAT. I’ve hugely enjoyed my time as vice president over the past year, meeting AAT members at branches throughout the country and supporting Vernon in his role. AAT has made a tremendous difference to the lives of thousands of students past and present, and I look forward to leading the organisation as it continues to help the industry meet the challenges and opportunities of an ever-evolving business environment.”
