Barry C. Melancon is the President and CEO of the American Institute of CPAs, and CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the most influential body of professional accountants in the world. Formed in 2017, the Association combines the strengths of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the AICPA. Melancon joined the AICPA as CEO in 1995. He is now the longest serving CEO in the organization’s 133-year history. Under his tenure, the AICPA has grown to become the largest membership body of CPAs in the world and has directed numerous initiatives to benefit not only the profession, but also investors, business owners, lenders, and the general public. These include audit quality centers, private company reporting standards, the computerized CPA exam, and two consumer financial literacy education programs. Under Melancon’s leadership in 2011, the AICPA formed a joint venture with CIMA to elevate management accounting globally. Melancon has led the Association in the release of multiple integrated reports that share a holistic view of how the AICPA, CIMA and Association come together to create value in the short- and long-term. This complements his service as global chair of the Board of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), prior to its merger with SASB to form the Value Reporting Foundation (VRF). Inside the VRF, he chaired the Strategy Committee and co-chaired a Deal Team to merge VRF into the IFRS Foundation which formed the basis for the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Additionally, Melancon serves as chairman of the Board of CPA.com, a for-profit subsidiary of the AICPA which was his brainchild in 1998. In a unique approach, he raised more than $70 million to fund an organization controlled by the AICPA but with minority owners. CPA.com today provides leading-edge technology services to tens of thousands of small CPA firms in the United States. Further, under his direction, the AICPA has been awarded the .cpa domain, which will help CPAs promote themselves online through a clear connection with the CPA profession. The new domain will only be available to the CPA community. During 2007-2008, Melancon served on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession. He has also testified for the profession before Congress numerous times. His extensive experience also includes spearheading the development of a new cybersecurity assurance service in 2017, the professionalization of a cloud-based client accounting service in 2007, the next generation of leadership academies, the computerization of the US-CPA exam, the global CGMA exam, uniform licensure for CPAs throughout the country. He also earned an MBA in 1983 from Nicholls State University and subsequently served as an adjunct professor of accounting at his alma mater for four years. He was also awarded his alma mater’s first and only Honorary Doctorate of Commerce in 2008. He has been honored with many awards, including the 2011 National Association Executive of the Year award. He presents to profession and business leaders more than 100 times per year.