Appointed Chief Executive in 2006, Michael’s leadership has seen ICAEW embrace a vision of ‘a World of Strong Economies’, transforming itself into a professional accountancy body with a truly global identity and reach.
Michael regularly meets ministers, policy-makers and regulators around the world, and is a frequent media commentator on economic and business issues. He passionately believes that the emerging forces which are already changing the very nature of work – such as technological disruption – present ICAEW Chartered Accountants with many more opportunities than threats. He is committed to helping the profession evolve to meet that challenge successfully.
Michael qualified as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant in 1986 with Coopers & Lybrand after graduating in law from Durham University, where he was also president of the student union. He has served as a school governor for eleven years and is a trustee of several charities, including Moorfields Eye Charity, supporting London’s world class Moorfields Eye Hospital. Prior to joining ICAEW, he spent four years at Spring Group, where he was managing director of several businesses and group finance director. From 1989 to 1996 he worked for the Canadian company, John Labatt Ltd., latterly as managing director of its retail arm.