Vallance to leave CII for top boss role at accountancy watchdog

The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has confirmed that chief executive Alan Vallance will leave next year to join the body that represents accountants across England and Wales.

Vallance was identified as a frontrunner to become the new top boss of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) last week (19 October 2023).

In a statement released today (26 October 2023), the CII said he will become the ICAEW’s chief executive in Spring 2024.

“Leading the CII Group has been a privilege,” Vallance said.

“Building and maintaining public trust in the insurance, financial planning and mortgage advice professions is essential to every economy around the world and I am honoured to have had the opportunity to lead a Royal Charter body containing two pre-eminent global professional membership organisations – the CII and PFS.”

He added that the decision to leave “was not easy”, although felt the group was now in a “much stronger position”.

“The foundations we have built since 2022 are a solid base on which the institute will continue to improve the way it serves its members, customers and the wider public for years to come,” he said.

Replacement

Vallance is a qualified chartered accountant and long-standing fellow of the ICAEW.

He joined the CII Group in August 2022, having previously led the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Now that his depatrue has been confirmed, the CII will soon begin a process to identify a replacement for him.

Dr Helen Phillips, CII group board chair, said: “The CII Group is sorry to see Alan leave, but we recognise his desire to take, what is, a unique opportunity to lead the chartered body of his own profession.

“The CII group board is grateful to Alan for the remarkable job he has done over his tenure, including leading the development and deployment of our new strategic plan.

“We look forward to identifying a successor to Alan soon to build on his strong legacy.”