Barry Melancon has announced that he plans to retire on 31 December 2024 from his role as CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and president and CEO of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). The Association is the world’s largest accounting membership body of public and management accountants.
Melancon served the profession in this role for 30 years. The details of his successor are expected to be announced before the end of the year and Melancon will be assisting with the transition and handover to the new CEO as they take up the role.
Commenting on the announcement, Melancon said: “It has been my greatest honour to serve this dynamic, service-driven profession. I am proud to have transformed AICPA and CIMA into the leading accounting association, one that recognises and promotes the profession as being truly global and expansive. Over the decades of my service, I have been committed to help the profession grow, serve the public interest, seize new opportunities, innovate, and expand the value it offers society. Today we have a profession evolving at speed to meet the needs of markets and fulfil the role of trusted strategic advisor. This bodes well for the future, placing our profession in position to address some of the biggest challenges facing individuals, businesses, and economies.”
Melancon joined as CEO of AICPA in 1995 at age 37, making him the youngest CEO of the organisation in its history, and served as the longest serving CEO since its formation in 1887. He became CEO of the Association in 2017, after successfully bringing together the largest accounting bodies, AICPA and CIMA, to serve the public and management accounting profession worldwide. His professional career started as a practicing CPA in Louisiana, becoming a CPA firm partner at 25 years old, before leading the Society of Louisiana CPAs and being appointed CEO of AICPA.
As CEO, Melancon’s role has spanned national and global leadership roles and interactions with government, regulators, and business leaders from around the world. Notable achievements include spearheading the CPA Vision Project and CGMA Future of Finance, which set the platform for a series of cutting-edge initiatives which has fuelled the growth of the profession. Under his leadership the organisation launched CPA.com, the computerisation of the CPA exam, the creation of the National Commission for Diversity and Inclusion, the Centers for Audit Quality, and the Dynamic Audit Solution (DAS). In 2012, he led the effort to create a joint venture with CIMA and launched the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation.
Building on these successes, AICPA and CIMA membership conducted historic membership votes that created the Association, the world’s largest professional accounting organisation, and set the stage for the groundbreaking Future of Finance initiative, CGMA Finance Leadership Programme and updated Global Management Accounting Principles – the international standards of management accountants.
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By GlobalDataMelancon’s track-record of establishing trust, visionary leadership and passion for the profession has seen him play an instrumental role as chair of the Board of the International Integrated Reporting Council, leading its subsequent path into the IFRS Foundation and formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board. He is board chairman of the Global Accounting Alliance, chair of XBRL-US, current board member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, board member of the Center for Audit Quality and member of the delegation to the International Federation of Accountants.
He is the recipient of numerous accolades including “National Association Executive of the Year” and independent publication Accounting Today placing him as the “Most Influential Person in Accounting” 17 times straight. In 2008, he received the first and only Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from his alma mater, Nicholls State University. He was awarded the International Accounting Forum and Awards 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. He has received numerous awards from other prestigious organisations.
