EY's Grier and BDO's Berson Tapped to Lead the CAQ Governing Board

Washington, DC – The Governing Board of the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) has elected new leadership. Effective October 1, Kelly Grier, US Chairman and Managing Partner and Americas Managing Partner at EY, will become the Governing Board’s Chair. Wayne Berson, US CEO at BDO USA, LLP and Global Chairman at BDO International, will serve as Vice Chair.

“We are delighted and grateful that Kelly Grier and Wayne Berson will step into these leadership roles on the CAQ Governing Board,” said CAQ Executive Director Julie Bell Lindsay. “Their vision, energy, and judgment will be instrumental to the CAQ’s continuing efforts to enhance investor confidence and public trust in the global capital markets.”

“In an era of accelerating change, the CAQ’s overarching mission of fostering trust in audit quality and financial reporting is more important than ever,” said Grier. “I look forward to working with my Governing Board colleagues and Julie as we help the public company auditing profession navigate this exciting time of evolution and engage with our stakeholders on vital public policy and corporate governance issues.”

“I also want to extend our gratitude to Cathy Engelbert for her service to the profession as the CAQ Governing Board Chair over the last four years,” Grier added. “On so many issues, notably our efforts to attract the next generation of auditors to the profession, Cathy’s leadership was central and exemplary.”

“The auditing profession strengthens confidence in our capital markets, and the CAQ strengthens the work of public company auditors, said Berson. “I’m proud to be a part of this Board, which is a catalyst for addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

The CAQ’s Governing Board is comprised of chief executive officers from leading public company auditing firms and the American Institute of CPAs, as well as three independent board members from outside the public company auditing profession. The Board provides oversight for the organization and leads the development of its strategic agenda.

Engelbert was appointed CAQ Governing Board Chair in February 2015. She served two terms prior to her retirement from Deloitte on June 2, 2019. RSM US LLP Managing Partner and CEO Joseph M. Adams will continue to serve as Acting Governing Board Chair through September, after which he will remain a member of the Board.

“We thank Joe Adams both for his prior tenure as Vice Chair and for stepping in as Acting Chair during this moment of transition,” added Lindsay. “Our organization benefits greatly from Joe’s steady presence and guidance.”

CAQ Governing Board Chairs and Vice Chairs are elected to two-year terms.

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Contacts:

• BDO
  Deneen Akture
  Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
  dakture@bdo.com
• CAQ
  Andrew T. Gillies
  Director of Communications
  agillies@www.thecaq.org
• EY
  Suzanne G. Bouhia
  Americas Chief Communications Officer
  suzanne.bouhia@ey.com

About the CAQ
The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) is an autonomous public policy organization dedicated to enhancing investor confidence and public trust in the global capital markets. The CAQ fosters high-quality performance by public company auditors; convenes and collaborates with other stakeholders to advance the discussion of critical issues that require action and intervention; and advocates policies and standards that promote public company auditors’ objectivity, effectiveness, and responsiveness to dynamic market conditions. Based in Washington, DC, the CAQ is affiliated with the American Institute of CPAs. For more information, visit thecaq.org.