The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has appointed a new presidential team at its AGM held in London on 21 November.
Jenny Gu has been elected as president of the organisation, becoming the first female member from China to hold the position.
Gu qualified as an ACCA member in 1998 and has served on its global council since 2009. She is currently chief executive of Richmont China, which owns a number of luxury and fashion brands.
Commenting on her appointment, Gu said: “I am looking forward immensely to serving as president of this wonderful organisation, which does such an incredible job in training skilled and dedicated financial professionals across the world.
“I aim to make diversity and inclusion the main theme of my year in office. ACCA has a proud record of creating opportunity in our profession, and I am passionate about encouraging diversity, including ensuring that women have the chance to contribute at the highest levels of business and government.”
Also appointed at the AGM were Mark Millar as deputy president and Orla Collins as vice president.
Millar received his ACCA qualification in 1980 and was elected to ACCA’s council in 2010. He served as vice president last year.
Millar said: "I feel hugely honoured to be representing ACCA professionals from all over the world in this responsible role. It is an enormous privilege to serve ACCA, which does such amazing work in promoting the accountancy profession, protecting the public interest, and supporting 219,000 members and 527,000 students across 179 countries.”
Collins joined ACCA in 1997 and has served on its council since 2012. Commenting on her appointment, Collins said: “It is a thrill and a real honour to serve in this post. It is humbling to think that colleagues from all over the world have vested their trust in me to take on this responsible task to work alongside the president and deputy president.
“I am so pleased to have a chance to serve ACCA. It’s a wonderful organisation which does so much to promote the accountancy profession, defend the public interest, and champions equality in the workplace and society.”
