The Institute of Internal Auditors Leadership
Meet The IIA Leadership team.
2025-26 Global Chair Theme: "Be The Future"
Stefano Comotti discusses his chosen platform as chair – “Be the Future” – which challenges internal auditors to lead with clarity and purpose, and fully embrace their role as forward-looking strategic advisors.

Stefano Comotti
2025-26 IIA Global Board of Directors Chair
Stefano Comotti is the 2025-26 Global Board of Directors Chair of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). He previously served as the Board’s 2024-25 Global Senior Vice Chair and the 2023-24 Outside North America (ONA) Lead Director. He also served on the Board of IIA Italy (2014-21).
Stefano currently works for a listed group in the luxury goods industry in Paris, France, where he leads audit and risk teams overseeing all aspects of operations across the company’s brands and their boutiques. With more than three decades of international experience, Stefano offers deep expertise across audit, internal control, risk management, corporate governance, transaction support, and finance. Stefano’s career began with Ernst & Young, where he worked as financial auditor for publicly listed companies in both Italy and the US, and later as a consultant in Transaction Support. He then moved into the telecommunications sector, joining Vodafone as Internal Audit Director for its Spanish subsidiary.
Stefano’s platform as Chair, “Be The Future,” will challenge internal auditors to go beyond “earning a seat at the table” and encourage them to fully embrace their role as forward-looking strategic advisors. It will place a particular emphasis on harnessing emerging technology, proactively addressing rising stakeholder expectations, and leading with purpose.

David Helberg
2026-27 IIA North American Board Chair
David Helberg is the 2026-27 Chair of the North American Board and a 2026-27 Director of the Global Board of Directors of The IIA.
David is Chief, Internal Audit Services & Corporate Ethics and Privacy Officer at Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ; TSX: CCO), one of the world’s largest providers of uranium fuel, supporting a secure and sustainable energy future. He has been with Cameco for more than 15 years and is accountable for the internal audit, corporate ethics, and corporate privacy functions.

Anthony J. Pugliese
IIA President and Chief Executive Officer
Anthony J. Pugliese is President and CEO of The IIA, the internal audit profession’s most widely recognized advocate, educator, and provider of standards, guidance, and certifications.
Over a career spanning more than 35 years, Pugliese has been a strategic, hands-on leader who has directed expansions into major global markets, pioneered innovative educational initiatives aimed at enhancing members’ professional growth, overseen the internal audit function of a major organization for more than 15 years, and re-shaped cultural norms toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusiveness (DE&I).
As CEO, Anthony drives the vision and management of a global professional association that represents more than 265,000 members, nearly 150 chapters, and 117 institutes in more than 170 countries and territories. He is focused on advocating for internal auditors worldwide while driving the evolution of the internal audit profession through initiatives to modernize professional standards and certifications. Of note, he spearheaded the groundbreaking “Internal Audit: Vision 2035 - Creating Our Future Together" project, which aims to identify what the internal audit profession will look like – and should look like – in 2035 and create a roadmap to help the profession achieve that vision.
National Institute and Chapter Leaders
For information about leaders of The IIA’s 250+ National Institutes and chapters, please see their individual websites.