CIPFA welcomes Owen Mapley as CEO

Owen Mapley

The current chief executive of Hertfordshire County Council will take up the leadership of CIPFA in the coming months, following the retirement of current CEO Rob Whiteman.

Mr Mapley brings extensive financial and operational leadership experience from a wide range of senior roles in local and central government, following an initial decade working in professional services with PWC. He has also been an NHS Integrated Care System board member for the last five years. With this broad background covering both public and private sector leadership, he is well-positioned to lead CIPFA into its next phase.

Mr Whiteman will work closely with Mr Mapley during the transition period to ensure a seamless handover of responsibilities.

Caroline Rassell, CIPFA president and member of the nominations committee, said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Owen Mapley as CIPFA’s next chief executive.

“The panel was impressed by his extensive experience in central and local government, and believe he is the right leader to take over the reins at CIPFA during this exciting period to support our members and our public services.

“I would also like to thank Rob Whiteman again for his dedication and excellent leadership of the Institute over the last 10 years. His knowledge of public finance and accountancy and his advocacy will be missed by all of us who have had the pleasure of working with him and the during his tenure. I know that he is leaving CIPFA in a much stronger position than when he took on the role.”

Mr Mapley added: “CIPFA plays a unique and vital role at the heart of public service financial management both in this country and globally. I feel both personally and professionally thrilled and honoured to be succeeding Rob who has done so much both for CIPFA and wider public service.

“I look forward to joining CIPFA to lead its work to pursue sustainable, confident and resilient public services, ensuring public money is well managed for the benefit of us all.”

Commenting on the appointment, FRC CEO Richard Moriarty said: “I welcome the appointment of Owen Mapley as the CEO of CIPFA. He brings a wealth of experience and is well placed to lead CIPFA following Rob Whiteman’s upcoming retirement.

“CIPFA’s ongoing support in developing measures to support timely local authority reporting and audit will be hugely important over the coming months and I look forward to working closely with Owen.”