Jenitha takes over from Bernardt Agulhas, who has worked to strengthen auditor independence.
The Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) has announced the appointment of Jenitha John as its new CEO with effect from 1 June.
Jenitha will be taking over from Bernard Agulhas, who has been the CEO of IRBA since 2008. His contract concluded on 31 March 2020, with an extension to the end of June 2020 to allow for a successful handover.
According to a statement issued by IRBA, Jenitha will be responsible for implementing the board’s new five-year strategy.
A qualified CA(SA), Jenitha has more than 24 years of corporate experience in diverse industries ranging from utilities to telecommunications, healthcare, insurance, motor, information technology and financial services. She has also served as a non-executive director on the boards of both public and private sector entities, including as the audit committee chairman of Tongaat Hulett, Nampak and Adcock Ingram.
According to the statement, IRBA has had a clean audit report for eleven consecutive years because Bernardt has been successful in implementing measures to strengthen auditor independence, championing comprehensive regulation of the financial reporting chain, and securing the pole position for South Africa in the World Economic Forum’s report on standards and codes for seven consecutive years in respect of auditing standards. He has also led the IRBA and the profession through challenging times when it needed to restore the public’s confidence and in its response to the current COVID – 19 national disaster.
IRBA board chairman Abel Dlamini said:
“Bernard’s technical skills and deep knowledge of the audit industry has contributed to earning the IRBA its rightful place in the South African financial ecosystem and his representation on international structures has ensured over the past two decades that South Africa has the recognition and respect from the global community. He has always demonstrated his commitment to the protection of the public interest and the public, and epitomises the IRBA’s values of integrity, independence and high standards.”
