Hans Hoogervorst, Chairman, IASB

Bio

Hoogervorst began a successful career by obtaining Master’s degrees in modern history from the University of Amsterdam and in international relations from John Hopkins University in the Netherlands.

Between 1998 and 2007, Hoogervorst worked in multiple positions in the Dutch government. He spent three years as a banking officer for the National Bank of Washington. He also served as a member of and a senior policy advisor to the Dutch Parliament and the Ministry of Finance. Following this, he worked as state secretary for social affairs, minister of finance, and minister of health, welfare, and sport.

Hoogervorst then continued on an impressive career trajectory. He was chairman of the executive board of the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM) as well as chairman of the technical committee of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

His role as co-chair of the Financial Crisis Advisory Group saw him leading a high-level group of business leaders with experience in international markets, and advising the Board and Financial Accounting Standards Board on their joint response to the financial crisis. Moreover, Hoogervorst was chairman of the Monitoring Board of the IFRS Foundation.

Finally, in 2011, Hoogervorst became chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board, and was reappointed for a second five-year term in 2016.

Why did he make the power list?

Hoogervorst is number 36 on the Accountancy Age Financial Power List 2018. Re-elected for a second term as chairman of the IASB in 2016, Hoogervorst has until 2021 to lead the way on international accounting standards. The key milestone this year revolves around the conceptual framework for financial reporting, updates to which are due to be released at the end of the first quarter. Will the board succeed in its aim to provide a more complete, clear and updated set of concepts?

IASB

The International Accounting Standards Board is an independent, private-sector body that develops and approves International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The IASB was formed in 2001 to replace the International Accounting Standards Committee.

It operates under the oversight of IFRS Foundation. The IASB is an independent group of experts with a mix of recent practical experience in setting accounting standards, in preparing, auditing, or using financial reports, and in accounting education.

Find out who made numbers 41-45 and 46-50 in the Power List. You can also compare this year’s rankings with those from 2017 and 2016.