MODERN PROFESSIONAL BODY LIMITED - Key Persons
Harry McAdoo is founder and CEO of the Modern Professional Body and leads on organisational strategy, reputation risk and stakeholder engagement.
Harry brings 25 years of board level experience advising professional bodies across a number of different sectors. Having started his career at Hill and Knowlton he went on to become Director of Communications for ICAEW and then Director of Brand and Corporate Reputation for ACCA. Recent and current consultancy projects include a major strategy reviews for RICS, work with the BSI to help them repurpose their member model and the development of a global stakeholder relations strategy for the IIRC.
Harry also advises a CEO led network of 20 leading professional services firms with a combined turnover of £600m, is an experienced facilitator used to running Board level workshops and strategy sessions, and sits on the Board of The Big Issue Foundation, a homeless charity.
Harry graduated from Warwick University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Financial Strategy
Martin Wheatcroft FCA leads on financial strategy, technology, data and risk management for The Modern Professional Body. He is particularly interested in how professional organisations can build financial resilience and repurpose their business models to meet the increasing commercial challenges they face.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, Martin has expertise in business strategy and operating models, finance function leadership, planning and risk management, financial processes and systems, internal and external reporting, and audit gained working at Board level in the UK and internationally.
His previous roles include Senior Vice-President Finance for AVG Technologies, Vice-President & Controller for National Grid USA, Chief Accountant for National Grid plc, and Director, Assurance & Advisory at Deloitte UK.
Martin graduated from the University of Cambridge.
Job Titles:
- CGMA Leads Our Work With Professional Bodies in the USA
- Senior Consultant, USA
Russell Guthrie CPA CGMA leads our work with professional bodies in the USA.
Russell was previously Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, External Affairs at the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). As a senior member of IFAC's management team, Russell held a multifaceted role, overseeing strategy, governance, finance, and operations, including playing a crucial role in shaping member and external stakeholder engagement strategies as well as pioneering the development of a robust public policy function. His leadership was also instrumental in spearheading IFAC's capacity-building initiatives, fostering the growth and development of the accountancy profession on a global scale.
Before joining IFAC, Russell served as the Director of Global Quality Assurance for KPMG International, where he showcased his proficiency in designing and implementing international quality assurance programs for the global audit practice.
Russell's academic background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting with honors from the University of Texas, Arlington. Complementing his academic achievements, he completed executive education at Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director, Marketing, Business Strategy and Executive Coaching
- Executive Coach at Ashridge Business School
Sue Best leads on marketing, business strategy and executive coaching for The Modern Professional Body.
Sue has over 30 years Board level experience working in the professional services and membership sectors. She has worked in the UK and internationally to revitalise brands and implement key account, marketing and sales programmes to drive growth and has a reputation for working collaboratively, creating strong internal and external partnerships to deliver results She started her marketing and business development career with Ernst & Young and went on to be Marketing and BD director for HLB Kidsons, Grant Thornton and most recently was Marketing and Brand Director for ICAEW for over 10 years. Recent consultancy projects include leading the strategy and brand development of a network of 15 Chartered Accountancy institutes globally, conducting a review of the regulatory arm of a professional body and acting as Interim Marketing Director for a leading Accountancy firm.
Sue trained as an Executive Coach at Ashridge Business School and Henley Business School and is an Accredited Coach with the International Coaching Federation.
Sue has been working as a coach and mentor for over 15 years and specialises in supporting individuals, teams and organisations to achieve their full potential, especially during key transition points. Sue is also an active volunteer with Macmillan and provides individual support to people living with cancer.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Professional Regulation
Vernon Soare MBA CPFA FCA leads on professional regulation and allied quality assurance and governance issues.
Vernon was previously Chief Operating Officer at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). As an executive board member he was responsible for finance, IT, property, communications and brand, plus ICAEW's international consulting and public sector work.
MBA qualified and a member of ICAEW and CIPFA with significant experience operating in professional body, regulated and public sector environments, Vernon has worked internationally with many professional bodies and national regulators on regulatory, change management, governance and business improvement assignments. Prior to his COO role at ICAEW, Vernon was Executive Director, Professional Standards responsible for regulation, quality assurance and professional discipline of firms and members, and relationships with external oversight regulators. Earlier career roles include Policy & Technical Director with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and senior manager at the Audit Commission.
Vernon graduated from Magdalen College, University of Oxford. He is an Honorary Professor in the Department of Accounting and Financial Management at Royal Holloway University of London.