16 June 2003
Claire Ighodaro has become the first female and the first black President of CIMA worldwide. She was elected President at CIMA’s AGM on 14 June. Her achievement marks an important point in the history of CIMA, which has 59,000 members and 77,000 students in 154 countries. She is the first female CIMA president since it was founded in 1919.
Claire, Finance Director, Broadband, BT Group, said:
"CIMA's unique business perspective is pivotal to our continued success as the qualification of choice for accountants in business, across public and private sectors. My career to date demonstrates the opportunities that membership of a chartered professional body brings. It is vital to have a professional badge, particularly in the post Enron accountancy world, where employers need to be reassured of the highest level of professional ethics and conduct that professional membership requires."
Claire went on to stress CIMA's forward looking perspective and the increasing expansion of the CIMA qualification:
"According to a survey released by Robert Half International in April, CIMA is 'rapidly becoming the chartered qualification of choice,' and our members continue to secure high level positions in leading companies. The CIMA qualification brings an understanding of the relevance and meaning of numbers ensuring that board directors, managers and shareholders understand the implication of decisions and the measures that really drive their business."
Claire Ighodaro has, as a UK Trade Ambassador, led successful overseas trade missions on behalf of the UK Department of Trade and Industry and the Telecoms Industry Association. She is also a Board member of the London Employment Coalition. She has been a Member of Council of CIMA since 1995, and commenced her CIMA career in 1979.
She has also served as Chair of CIMA's International Committee during which time she helped set up an accounting institute in Poland, and was also involved in a new institute in Russia as well leading BT's investment in and support of, CIMA's UK schools' business management competition.
The other honorary officers elected at the CIMA AGM were Roland Kaye, Dean of the Open University Business School, the largest and leading distance learning Business School in Europe who was elected Deputy President and Ian Christison, elected Vice President.
If you would like more information please contact Lottie Muir
Phone: +44 (0)20 8849 2407
Email: lottie.muir@cimaglobal.com
