DENVER, COLO – 12 April 2023 – Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB) is pleased to announce new leadership positions to help drive forward the organization’s mission to establish, uphold and promote worldwide professional standards in financial planning, with CFP certification its global symbol of excellence.
On 1 April 2023, FPSB Board Member Ana Cláudia Akie Utumi, CFP, ascended to the role of chairperson of the FPSB Board for a two-year term, succeeding Garry Muriwai.
In this leadership role, Utumi leads the global standards-setting body for the financial planning profession and owner of the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification program, representing more than 213,000 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals around the world.
Utumi is the founding partner of Utumi Advogados in Brazil and has more than 30 years of experience in tax. In addition to heading up her own tax specialty legal practice, Utumi is Professor of Tax Law at the University IBDT in São Paulo, guest lecturer at the University of Zurich, a member of the practice council of the NYU School of Law International Tax Program and member of the International Fiscal Association (IFA) Supervisory Board. She was also a founding board member of Planejar, FPSB’s Affiliate organization in Brazil.
“It is an honor to step into the position of FPSB chairperson and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues of the Board on our strategic priorities to advance the global profession and build awareness of the value and importance of financial planning, so more people around the world can access and benefit from it,” said Utumi.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank my predecessor, Garry Muriwai, who has been an exceptional leader and advocate for the financial planning profession, navigating the impacts of a global pandemic, overseeing the process of FPSB’s first CEO transition in 20 years, and ensuring our CFP professional community continues to grow,” added Utumi.
Muriwai served as FPSB board member since 2018, and chairperson since 2021, and was actively involved with the organization for nearly 15 years. Muriwai brought rich experience to FPSB in the areas of global governance and oversight in the delivery of international education programs which he gained in his previous board roles within the global accounting profession, as well as his leadership positions in the banking and finance sectors.
In addition, FPSB board member Andrea Middel, CFP, began serving as FPSB board chairperson-elect for a two-year term, and Caroline Dabu and Brett Millard, CFP, CIM began three-year terms on FPSB’s Board of Directors.
Middel served as chairperson of the FPSB Professional Standards Committee (PSC) before embarking on her new role as chairperson-elect of the FPSB board. With her transition to chairperson-elect, FPSB board member Darren McShane was appointed PSC chairperson. In this new capacity, McShane will oversee the Committee’s work to uphold and improve the standards and certification requirements that benefit the public and ensure CFP certification continues to be recognized as the global symbol of excellence in financial planning.
“I’m pleased to welcome new board members, Caroline and Brett, and new leaders on FPSB’s governing body,” said FPSB CEO Dante De Gori, CFP. “These talented individuals bring a vast amount of experience and knowledge from different parts of the world to propel our strategic priorities and mission forward. I look forward to working with them, our global network of organizations and our CFP professional community to advance the global financial planning profession, with CFP certification its symbol of excellence.”