ACCA appoints new deputy president

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has appointed Melanie Proffitt as new deputy president of the global professional accountancy body.

Proffitt joins the senior officer team at ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), representing more than 252,500 members and 526,000 future members across 180 countries.

She is CFO of Farncombe Estate, which is home to three award-winning hotels on a 400-acre estate near Broadway in the Cotswolds.

She has spoken at member conventions in Africa, given a keynote address at financial and sustainable reporting events in India and has welcomed new members in Poland and Scotland. 

Proffitt is experienced in an array of industries including healthcare, print and packaging, automotive and heavy engineering. She joined ACCA’s global governing Council in 2015.

She joins fellow ACCA officers Ayla Majid, president, a sustainability strategist from Pakistan, and vice president Datuk Zaiton Mohd Hassan from Malaysia, chief executive officer of the Malaysia Professional Accountancy Centre (MyPAC). 

This is the first time in ACCA’s history that women have held all three officer posts at the same time.

Regarding her appointment, Proffitt said: “I’m really looking forward to continuing to play my part in ACCA’s valuable work in opening up opportunities to more people around the world.

I always knew ACCA was a truly global organisation, but being able to see the work we do at first hand has been a remarkable experience.

“I’m so encouraged by what I have seen over the past 12 months, particularly the way that accountants are making such a difference to organisations, economies and communities across the globe. In particular I’m keen to continue making a contribution to ACCA’s commitment to sustainable business; and to advocate for greater fairness for women in business and in society around the world.”