After 17 years with CIMA in Africa, Samantha Louis (pictured) has taken up a post as the CIMA Director of Advocacy, based at the CIMA headquarters in London, effective 1 August. Louis will play an active role in CIMA as the primary spokesperson and internationally recognised authority for the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and advancing the Global Management Accounting Principles (GMAPs). She will also be responsible for driving the adoption of the soon-to-be-released GMAPs self-assessment tool for business, which will leverage the world's first standard for management accounting (PAS 1919). Louis said of her move:
"I am elated about this new role as the GMAPs are the single most transformational activity of CIMA over the years. They revolutionise positioning of management accounting and being part of this at a global level is very exciting."
Over the years, Louis has held various positions at CIMA, including that of Divisional Director South Africa (1998 - 2004) and Director Southern Africa (2004 - 2010). During her tenure she directed the growth of the member and student population in Africa from 2,000 to over 20,000 and led the expansion of CIMA into West Africa. In South Africa, she led the transformation of the CIMA student base, opening chartered management accounting up to young black professionals.
