Clive Bellingham CA becomes new President of ICAS
Clive Bellingham CA has been appointed as the new President of ICAS for 2023/2024.
Clive, who is also a former member of the PwC Global Board, was confirmed as President at the ICAS Annual General Meeting on Friday 28 April 2023. He takes over from Indy Singh Hothi CA, co-founder of Future Arc, and will serve a year in office.
Clive, ICAS’ first international President, plans to focus his presidency on driving sustainability reporting and assurance agenda, audit reform and championing wider access to the accountancy profession from outside the traditional routes to entry.
Clive joined PwC in Glasgow in 1984 after qualifying as a CA with Bird Simpson & Co in Dundee. He has worked for PwC in Scotland, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, where he has been resident since 1987.
Clive retired from his role as a Partner at PwC in 2021. As a member of PwC’s Global Board for eight years, Clive contributed to the governance and oversight of a network covering more than 150 countries. He chaired the Clients & Markets Committee for four years and retains a position on the PwC India Advisory Board.
Supporting Clive in his role as President are Alison Cornwell CA, who has been appointed Deputy President of ICAS, and Karen Scholes CA, who has been appointed Vice President of ICAS.
Commenting on his appointment, Clive said:
“I am delighted to build upon my years as an ICAS Office Bearer by taking up the role of ICAS President.
"How we hold businesses to account for their impact on the environment, its employees, and society is under the spotlight like never before. And at a time where sustainability reporting standards are soon to be implemented at a global scale, I feel passionately that Chartered Accountants are the right people to help the business community navigate and answer these demands.
“I want to focus my presidency on ensuring the profession has the skills and access to future and wider talent to become the innovators and leaders of sustainable business.”
Bruce Cartwright CA, ICAS Chief Executive, said:
“I have had the pleasure of working with Clive over many years. He brings a wealth of experience to his role and is a strong advocate for diversity, social mobility and trust in the profession. This is invaluable in his role as our new ICAS President for 2023/24.
“I would also like to congratulate Alison Cornwell CA and Karen Scholes CA who have been appointed as our new Deputy President and Vice President.
“Our ICAS Office Bearers, Clive, Alison and Karen will play a key role with the Executive team in implementing our new strategy and building an exciting future for ICAS.”
Deputy President and Vice President 2023/24
Alison Cornwell CA, who has been appointed Deputy President of ICAS, is a highly experienced CFO having worked in senior international roles at The Walt Disney Company and then as CFO in three successive PE backed businesses in television broadcasting (Sparrowhawk Media Group), film distribution and production financing (Alliance Films) and most recently in film exhibition (Vue International).
Prior to pursuing a career in business Alison qualified as a CA with C&L Glasgow in 1990 and spent 5 years in PwC’s Corporate Finance practice in London.
Alison has held a number of non-executive positions; She is a former Governor and Audit Committee Chair of the British Film Institute and is currently a non-executive Director of Moonriver TV, producer of the recent series A Gentleman In Moscow starring Euan McGregor.
Alison became ICAS Vice President in 2022 having been an ICAS Council Member since 2018. In September 2022 she cycled 1000 miles in 9 days from Land’s End to John O‘Groats to raise over £25,000 for the ICAS Foundation.
Karen Scholes CA, who has been appointed Vice President of ICAS, qualified as a CA in 1988 with Whitelaw Wells, Edinburgh. After qualifying Karen returned home to manage Scholes, the accountancy practice started by her later father, she was the sole practitioner in the firm until it was incorporated in 2008. Since incorporation, the firm has seen steady growth, opening an office in Edinburgh in 2018 and most recently Aberdeen in 2022. Karen continues to retain a hands-on approach to management within the firm, working closely with colleagues to ensure the firm delivers the highest standard of professional support to their growing number of clients.
Karen is keen to enhance the engagement ICAS has with its member in practice and until 2020 was the Chair of Members in Practice Advisory Board, along with being a member of Council. Since September 2020 she has served as Convener on the Authorisations Committee and a member of the Regulation Board.
Karen is particularly passionate about supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs and enjoys nurturing young people in business through her work with Young Enterprise Orkney.
