ICAEW names Vernon Soare as its new chief operating officer

ICAEW has made its second high-profile appointment in as many months, naming Vernon Soare as its new chief operating officer.

Soare, who this year rose from 17 to 14 in Accountancy Age’s Financial Power List, is currently executive director for professional standards, but with his new appointment will ‘co-ordinate the overall operational efficiency of ICAEW’, taking charge of financial management, information technology, property services and marketing.

The new COO will continue to be responsible for public sector and capacity building, as well as maintaining duty over the Middle East, South Asia and Africa region.

Soare’s appointment comes little more than two months after it was confirmed that AC Mole and Sons partner Paul Aplin will serve as ICAEW vice president from June this year and will become the institute’s president from June 2018.

It also comes two months after the shock departure of ICAEW’s finance director Liz Rylatt, whose parting was reportedly fuelled by a ‘difference of opinion’ at board level, one person with knowledge of the situation told Accountancy Age at the time.

Michael Izza, the institute’s chief executive, said that Soare has already achieved a ‘huge amount’ at the ICAEW, including the institute’s move into legal services.

“He has also been responsible for the creation of the new ICAEW Regulatory Board. I congratulate him on his new appointment and look forward to working closely with him in his new role,” said Izza.

Sharron Gunn, currently executive director commercial, will take on responsibility for the support of ICAEW’s members in the UK and internationally with her role changing to executive director members, commercial & shared services.

For more vacancy and recruitment opportunities, please visit Accountancy Age Jobs.