ICAS Appoints Gail Boag as New Chief Executive Officer

• ICAS announced the appointment of Gail Boag to the position of chief executive, effective 1 January 2026
• Gail is currently ICAS’s Executive Director of Learning and Market Development
• She will be the first female CEO in the organisation's 172-year history

ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) today announces the appointment of Gail Boag as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2026.

Gail is currently the Executive Director of Learning and Market Development at ICAS and will become the first woman CEO in the 172-year history of the organisation. She succeeds Bruce Cartwright, CA, who has headed ICAS since May 2018.

She brings with her a wealth of experience in leadership from prior roles such as Dean of Edinburgh Napier's Business School and Regional Director for Scotland at BT.

At ICAS, she led the modernization of the CA syllabus to include developments in technology, data, and sustainability, while ensuring that the CA qualification is globally recognized.

Gail's appointment received unanimous support from the ICAS Presidential Team and Council, who cited her commercial experience, ability to communicate and connect with others, and leadership capability as key assets in supporting the next stage of the organisation's growth strategy.

Regarding her appointment, Boag said she is proud to step up to the role and acknowledged her commitment to uphold the standards of integrity, professionalism, and public trust that are intrinsic in the standards set by ICAS.

She wants to focus on sustainable growth, increased value from being an ICAS member, and the relevance of the CA qualification.

ICAS President Karen Scholes, CA, congratulated Boag on her appointment. She praised the leadership that Boag had already demonstrated in her current role of Executive Director, and in ensuring the successful delivery of the new syllabus for the CA qualification.

Karen admired her leadership and said she would lead ICAS with "drive and passion". He thanked and gave appreciation to the outgoing CEO Bruce Cartwright, who spent eight years in the role. She was thankful for his leadership, particularly during times of change.

The ICAS Council also embraced similar sentiments, acknowledged Cartwright's contribution to the molding of their organisation's modern identity, and wished him well in his future endeavors. He will remain at ICAS through March 2026, ensuring a responsible transition.

On the transition of leadership, Cartwright sounds optimistic and sure that Boag will be able to lead ICAS into the future, citing Gail's capabilities to further the organization as a successful leader with years of experience. He also acknowledged the Executive Team, his colleagues, members, and students for their support and facilitation in making the contributions towards reaching ICAS's culture and public reach.