​IIA Names Anthony Pugliese as New President & CEO

Veteran business strategist brings proven record of leading associations and increasing member, stakeholder value

Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Pugliese has overseen the internal audit function of a major organization, directed strategic expansions into major global markets, pioneered innovative educational initiatives aimed at enhancing members’ professional growth, and defined cultural norms toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

As CEO of The IIA, he will drive the vision and management of a nearly 80-year-old organization with more than 200,000 members, 156 chapters, and 112 affiliates in nearly 200 countries and territories. His focus will be on enhancing membership services, creating new approaches to learning and competency development programs, fulfilling The IIA’s multimillion-dollar digital transformation initiative, and enhancing the value of internal audit, particularly in its role of addressing organizational risks and opportunities.

“We are thrilled to welcome Anthony to The IIA,” said IIA Global Chair Jenitha John. “He is an articulate, well-informed, passionate, and results-driven leader with a consistent track record of great successes that inspire and benefit not only his organizations but, importantly, the members they serve. His strategic direction, coupled with his insight of internal audit’s evolution and the instrumental role technology holds for its future, will help The IIA grow and build value for our members and customers around the world.”

A seasoned executive and skilled association strategist, Pugliese most recently was President and CEO of the California Society of CPAs, the largest state CPA organization in the United States, with more than 45,000 members. From 1997 through 2018, he served in key leadership positions at what is now the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the world’s largest accounting professional organization. His roles included executive vice president of membership, technology, and learning; chief operating officer and senior vice president of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, where he oversaw the AICPA’s $50 million relocation to North Carolina; and vice president of business reporting and member innovation.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to join The IIA and its diverse, global membership. It’s a chance to work with and for a truly phenomenal profession that plays such a crucial role in the public’s interest, especially during these unusually challenging times with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Pugliese said. “There is tremendous potential for internal audit to elevate itself through collaboration and innovation, particularly in the areas of cyber and technology, to tackle risks head-on, and for us to inspire the next generation of practitioners.

“The IIA is able to meet the challenges and define the opportunities ahead,” Pugliese said, “thanks to a highly experienced staff of training, professional standards, certification, and other professionals at its global headquarters in Florida and at its chapters, institutes, and affiliates around the world. These great people are dedicated to the internal audit profession and our members, and I look forward to being a part of the journey with them.”

A graduate of the University of North Florida (Jacksonville), Pugliese has been repeatedly recognized as one of the most influential people in accounting, appearing most recently on the cover of Accounting Today. He holds the AICPA's Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) credentials, and is licensed as a CPA in California, Georgia, and North Carolina.