LAKE MARY, Fla., March 6, 2024 --- The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) – the internal audit profession's leader in standards, certifications, education, research, and technical guidance worldwide – today announced that J. Michael Peppers is stepping down from the International Internal Audit Standards Board (IIASB) and as The IIA’s representative to the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) Board of Directors.
Peppers was instrumental in the historic IPPF Evolution project that reimagined the future of internal auditing and resulted in the recently released Global Internal Audit Standards. Now that the Standards have been launched, Peppers is taking a step back as Immediate Past Chair of the IIASB and leaving the IPPF Evolution’s next steps in the capable hands of IIASB Chairman Naohiro Mouri, CIA, CPA. Benito Ybarra, CIA, CISA, CFE, CCEP, will serve as the new IIA representative to the COSO Board of Directors. Ybarra is the IIA’s Executive Vice President of Global Standards, Guidance, and Certifications, and previously served as the Chair of the North American Board of Directors (2019-2020) and Chair of the Global Board of Directors (2022-2023).
“I want to thank Mike for his years of service and dedication to both The IIA and the internal audit profession,” said IIA President and CEO Anthony Pugliese, CIA, CPA, CGMA, CITP. “His contributions, including his work on the new Global Internal Audit Standards, will directly contribute to the future growth and success of internal auditing around the world.”
Sally-Anne Pitt, CIA, CGAP, Chair of the IIA Global Board of Directors, added, “Under Mike’s leadership, we've seen the standards evolve to meet the ever-changing landscape of internal auditing, ensuring that our profession remains at the forefront of excellence and integrity. On behalf of the IIA, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for his service, leadership, and dedication to advancing our standards.”
“I would like to thank the Global Board and Anthony for the confidence they had in me related to these two critical roles,” said Peppers. “In particular, leading the development of the new Standards has been a highlight and capstone to the decades of service I have so much enjoyed. I’m forever grateful to the tremendous IIA and COSO colleagues and friends with which I have worked along the way. I look forward to watching the great progress of both organizations and will support and assist in any ways possible.”
Peppers, CIA, CPA, QIAL CRMA, has over three decades of experience in the profession and currently serves as the Chief Audit Executive for The University of Texas System. He served as the Chair of The IIA’s Global Board in 2017, where his platform focused on the importance of service to the profession. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Faculty Member in The IIA’s volunteer faculty program, in 2019 was inducted into The IIA’s American Hall of Distinguished Audit Practitioners, and in 2021 received The IIA’s Victor Z. Brink Award for Distinguished Service.
About The Institute of Internal Auditors and the Internal Audit Profession
Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value, improve an organization’s operations, and help organizations meet their goals. Internal auditors are strategic business partners who bring an in-depth understanding of business culture, systems, and processes, which helps them evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is an international professional association that serves more than 245,000 global members and has awarded more than 195,000 Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certifications worldwide. Established in 1941, The IIA is recognized throughout the world as the internal audit profession's leader in standards, certifications, education, research, and technical guidance.
For more information, visit theiia.org.
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