Tom Hood to Lead Growth and Engagement for Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

In addition to Hood’s appointment, the Association has acquired the Business Learning Institute (BLI) from MACPA. The acquisition of BLI’s many learning programs will enhance the Association’s offerings to corporate employers in upskilling and reskilling their employees so they continue to meet ever-changing marketplace demands. Together, the Association and BLI will accelerate the introduction of new, innovative content for accounting and finance professionals globally. Founded in 1999 by MACPA, BLI is a highly respected source for human intelligence skill development and a strategic learning partner and talent management consultancy for businesses and CPA firms worldwide. Hood will continue to provide leadership in supporting BLI’s clients, products, and services throughout BLI’s integration with the Association.

Several members of the Business Learning Institute will accompany Hood to new positions at the AICPA. Hood believes our accounting profession needs to be able “to thrive in a global volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. The BLI team is looking forward to coming together as part of the Association to leverage our combined strengths, reach and scale,” Hood continued.

“Tom’s vision and mission to help finance and accounting professionals grow in a changing business environment is well aligned with the Association’s goals of powering trust, opportunity, and prosperity for members, students, the profession, and those they serve. He brings energy, insight, enthusiasm and a unique ability to facilitate connections,” Melancon said. “Tom will add value to our engagement with businesses and the accounting and finance professions, increasing our understanding of the challenges they face and how to best meet their needs.”

Melancon added, “We are proud of our reputation as a key source for accounting and finance professionals’ learning needs. BLI’s content complements and enriches our current learning tools, further deepens our global offerings, and helps expand our value proposition. This development is an important step in the Association’s commitment to creating a strong and vibrant future for the profession and those it serves.”

Another focus of Hood’s role will be partnering with Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, the Association’s chief executive of management accounting, to further professionalize management accounting and support professionals in obtaining their Chartered Global Management Credential (CGMA) credential in the Americas. This includes the digital-first Finance Leadership Program, an online learning program that teaches candidates the finance, business, people, and leadership skills needed to succeed in finance teams of the future.

Hood is well known across the accounting profession and in 2020 was named the Second Most Influential Person in Accounting for the eighth year by Accounting Today magazine. He has been a longtime thought leader and driver of change among state CPA societies, both as a volunteer chair and, since 1997, as CEO of MACPA. He received the AICPA Special Recognition Award for his contributions to the profession leading the CPA Vision Project in 2003. He is a member of CPA Practice Advisor’s Thought Leader Symposium and was elected to the Accounting Hall of Fame in 2015. Hood was named among Maryland’s 2019 Most Admired CEOs by The Maryland Daily Record. In addition to his CPA license, Hood has obtained the CGMA credential and the AICPA Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) certification. He is a graduate of Loyola College (B.A. in Accounting) and has a Master’s in Finance (Real Estate) from Johns Hopkins University.

Avonette Blanding, CPA, chair of MACPA’s Board of Directors, commented, “Tom is also a great teacher, mentor and leader. I’m thrilled by his decision to join the Association and expand his reach within the profession.” (Watch this MACPA video and read this MACPA article for more information.)

Hood doesn’t plan to leave the MACPA entirely. “I plan to continue with MACPA as a volunteer, chairing the legislative executive committee. I’ll keep doing advocacy with more volunteers and paid staff of the association.” He’ll maintain an office at MACPA.

Jackie Brown will succeed Hood as MACPA’s CEO. Brown has spent 40 years as part of the MACPA team and has served as its chief operating officer for the past 23 years.

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) is the most influential body of professional accountants, combining the strengths of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to power trust, opportunity and prosperity for people, businesses and economies worldwide. It represents 650,000 members and students across 179 countries and territories in public and management accounting, and advocates for the public interest and business sustainability on current and emerging issues. With broad reach, rigor and resources, the Association advances the reputation, employability and quality of CPAs, CGMAs and accounting and finance professionals globally.

The Business Learning Institute is the leading talent-development organization for CPAs, finance, and accounting professionals in the United States. It provides customized, competency-based curriculums and a portfolio of “success skills” and technical programs designed for the finance and accounting profession. Founded in 1999 by the Maryland Association of CPAs, the BLI is an innovation and learning center that facilitates the development and sharing of competencies and strategic knowledge required for leadership in today’s rapidly changing business environment. Visit BLIonline.org.