The California Society of CPAs announced that long-time CEO Loretta Doon will retire in June and will be succeeded by former American Institute of CPAs executive Anthony Pugliese.
Doon also serves as CEO of the CalCPA Education Foundation. A CPA, she joined the society as COO in 2005, and became CEO in 2006. Over the course of her tenure, she has grown CalCPA to a record 45,000 members, making special efforts to reach out to younger accountants and students, while also building a nationwide platform for accounting education providers that includes 48 other state societies. A well-respected thought leader in the profession, she was a frequent member of Accounting Today’s annual list of Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.
“I’m incredibly grateful to have worked with my talented staff, dedicated boards and committee volunteers, our diverse members and our partners over these years to build CalCPA into the largest state CPA society,” Doon said in a statement. “I’ve loved everything about my job at CalCPA and the foundation, especially the learning moments that happened every day. I couldn't have wished for a better role. It’s been such a privilege to be working on behalf of my profession and working with my colleagues both at the leadership level and at the staff level.”
Pugliese will join the society on May 1 to help with the transition and will also take the helm of the Education Foundation. A CPA himself, he worked as an auditor at Big Four firm Deloitte & Touche in the 1990s before joining the AICPA, where he rose to COO and senior vice president, before working to help establish the institute’s joint venture with CIMA, the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants,as an executive vice president.
CalCPA chair Lewis Sharpstone said in a statement, “It was important for us to select an incoming CEO with a strong vision for the future of CalCPA and the foundation. Anthony’s vision not only builds off of Loretta’s accomplishments to date; it will keep us focused on our mission to serve the profession’s needs as it evolves and to protect the public interest.”
“I am incredibly excited about this new opportunity to work with the members, the boards and the staff to deliver on the strategic priorities of CalCPA and the foundation,” Pugliese said in a statement. “I look forward to sharing my experience in all aspects of the profession with our staff and members, and all our partners and being inspired by their diverse perspectives. We will draw upon these collective experiences to lead CalCPA and the foundation into the next era.”
Formed in 1903, CalCPA has over 45,000 members and 14 chapters throughout the state.
