11 June 2005
CIMA, the chartered professional body with a sole focus on accountants in business, has elected an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman as President, Deputy President and Vice President at its Annual General Meeting, held at the Café Royal, London, on 11 June 2005.
Ian Christison MSc FCMA FCCA FMAAT, based in Leicester, UK, has been elected President. Ian's career has spanned several senior management roles within heavy engineering and chemical industries in Chesterfield and Sheffield and included senior roles in education and consultancy in Leicester. His expertise lies in developing management accounting and computerised business systems. Ian completed an MSc in Computing to ensure he remained at the forefront of his profession, before delivering undergraduate and postgraduate courses with the current Leicester Business School, De Montfort University. During this time he undertook consultancy for the Alliance & Leicester Building Society among others.
Ian Christison said:
'CIMA's unique business perspective is pivotal to our position as a world leader in the qualification and support of professional accountants in business. We are forward looking business managers with firm roots in finance. This sole focus of business, coupled with our practical experience requirements, enables us to develop Chartered Management Accountants with an unrivalled depth of both accounting and management skills. In turn, this ensures that CIMA members continue to remain the number one choice for employers in business, in both the private and public sectors.'
He continued:
'As a body of over 150,000 members and students in 156 countries, CIMA is the only accounting body with a sole focus on business that is truly international. Our members are driving some of the world's most successful organisations. We have unquestioned strength in existing territories but I am particularly excited about developments we are making into new and emerging markets.'
Ian continued:
'Our success demonstrates the significant opportunities that membership of CIMA brings. It is vital to have a professional badge so that employers and the general public can be reassured of the highest level of professional ethics and conduct this professional membership requires.'
Ian Christison then concluded:
'We have a wholehearted commitment and responsibility to lifelong learning. I am delighted that members approved the introduction of mandatory Continual Professional Development (CPD) at our AGM. This will reinforce CIMA's reputation and position as one of the world's leading accountancy bodies. It also demonstrates that CIMA and our members endorse and support best practice in maintaining and developing professional competence. I am looking forward to the imminent launch of our CIMA Professional Development programme to further support our members.'
The other honorary officers elected at the CIMA AGM were Irishman John Coghlan FCMA, who was elected Deputy President. John was previously Country Chief Executive, Smurfit UK and formerly President of the CIMA Republic of Ireland Division. Scotsman Gordon Grant FCMA was elected Vice President. Gordon is currently Chief Executive of Petrodata Ltd in Aberdeen. He is also Principal of NXFD. Gordon was Chairman of the Student Development Committee.
For interviews, photographs and further information please contact:
Steven Hilton
Press Officer, CIMA
020 8849 2427
steven.hilton@cimaglobal.com
Notes to editors
1. CIMA (the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) is a leading professional body that offers an internationally recognised qualification in management accountancy, focussing on accounting in business. It is the fastest growing UK based membership body, in terms of members, in both the UK and worldwide and is the voice of over 85,000 students and 65,000 members in 156 countries. CIMA is responsible for the education and training of management accountants who work in industry, commerce and not-for-profit and has more members in the public sector than any other UK based body. CIMA prides itself on the commercial relevance of its syllabus, which is in tune with the activities of high performance organisations, and evolves continually reflecting the latest developments in global business. It is committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards of members and students, and to maintaining public confidence in management accountancy. For more information about CIMA, please visit http://www.cimaglobal.com/
11 June 2005050611