Ayla Majid has made history by becoming the first South Asian and Muslim to be elected as the president of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). This landmark achievement positions her at the helm of a global accountancy body, where she will lead over 252,500 members and 526,000 aspiring members across 180 countries during her year-long tenure.
Ayla, the founder and CEO of Planetive Middle East and Planetive Pakistan, brings over two decades of experience in energy, transaction advisory, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. She has been a member of ACCA since 2006 and is known for her expertise in sustainability, decarbonization, and energy transition. In her new role, she aims to spotlight the evolving role of accountants, emphasizing a strategic and stakeholder-focused approach to the profession.
Upon her election, Ayla expressed gratitude to ACCA members for their trust, stating that her focus will be on a “new future for accountancy” that embraces sustainability, social value, and technological advancements. She highlighted the dynamic nature of the accountancy profession, noting its potential as an exciting and purposeful career choice in a rapidly changing world. Ayla’s presidency comes at a significant time as ACCA celebrates its 120th anniversary and surpasses a milestone of over a quarter million members.
Her election also marks a historic moment for ACCA, as this is the first time all three top leadership positions are held by women. Ayla is joined by Melanie Proffitt from the UK, who has been appointed as deputy president, and Datuk Zaiton Mohd Hassan from Malaysia as vice president. The trio’s leadership is expected to steer ACCA towards greater inclusivity and innovation in the accountancy sector.
In addition to her ACCA duties, Ayla serves on the Global Future Council of Energy at the World Economic Forum and is recognized as a Young Global Leader. She holds an MBA from the Lahore University of Management Sciences and an LLB (Hons) from the University of London, with further leadership training from prestigious institutions like Harvard, Oxford, and Princeton.
Taking over from outgoing president Ronnie Patton, Ayla praised his leadership and expressed her commitment to building on his legacy. Her presidency is seen as a transformative step for the ACCA, with a strong focus on sustainability, ethics, and expanding the role of accountants in the digital age.
Source : ACCA Global
