The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia (ICAN) has appointed Fenni Nghikevali as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Nghikevali was previously the Professional Development Executive, a role which entailed promoting the Chartered Accountancy brand, improving the quality of the profession and servicing and supporting the organisation’s members to obtain maximum benefit from their CA(NAM) designation.
“I am humbled by this moment and grateful to my Council for choosing me to serve as their CEO with effect from 1 January 2023. I would like to thank the members, my colleagues and the ICAN Council for the trust and confidence given to me. In addition, I am also honored to serve in the CEO position and continue in the footsteps of the previous leader, Koos du Toit, who was the first and previous long-serving CEO of the Institute,” she said of her appointment.
“I am deeply honoured to not only be the first previously disadvantaged person to serve as CEO of the institute, but also the first female to serve as CEO, since the Institute was formally constituted in 1990. I envisage a brand-new era where no person, regardless of race, gender and social orientation will feel intimidated to pursue a similar career path.”
Having joined ICAN in February 2020, Nghikevali said her experience has given her a holistic view of the entire Chartered Accountancy profession.
“My passion for the profession is reflected in my work, and I believe that is what got me here. During the course of my career, I have served in diverse roles and have been exposed to a wide variety of roles within the CA profession, from the auditing and training office environment to commerce and industry, to the regulatory environment, and finally during the last three years at the Professional body. Because of this exposure I am also able to understand how each sector in the CA profession has a significant role to play in our society,” she said.
On what leadership means to her, the incoming ICAN CEO said: “To me, leadership means valuing the contributions of others, including their perspectives, as well as what they can offer towards an organisation’s goals. I aim to lead with concrete goals in mind and with clear, transparent communication as we live our shared values and work together to achieve our collective vision for the profession.”
On what to expect under her new role, she said “with my diverse experience in the CA profession and the valued support of members and stakeholders, I am confident that I will be able to drive the Institute’s strategy, future plans and performance to greater heights.”
