US-headquartered Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB), the standards-setting body for the global financial planning profession, has named Andrea Middel, CFP, as board chairperson and expands global leadership with key appointments for 2025.
On 1 April 2025, Middel (pictured above) will take the role a one-year term, succeeding Ana Cláudia Akie Utumi, CFP. In addition, FPSB Board member Caroline Dabu will step up as 2025 board chairperson-elect for a one-year term.
As the FPSB Board Chairperson, Middel will lead the global standards-setting body for the financial planning profession and owner of the international certified financial planner certification program, representing more than 223,700 CFP professionals worldwide.
With more than 30 years of experience, Middel is a founding partner of DURF Financieel Planners in the Netherlands and joined the FPSB Board in 2019.
In addition to leading her financial planning practice, Middel served as chairperson of the FPSB Professional Standards Committee. Awarded as financial planner of the year in 2011 in the Netherlands, she served on the board of the Federatie Financieel Planners (FFP) from 2012-2018 and was appointed as FFP’s Member of Merit.
Middel said: “I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my predecessor, Ana Cláudia Akie Utumi, CFP, for her leadership and guidance in advancing and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning during her tenure.
“I look forward to building upon her legacy in the coming years to ensure we do our best to future-proof the profession through global standards that match today’s fast changing world.”
FPSB also announces two new board members, Marcia Dessen and Jan Karsten, to serve three-year terms beginning 1 April 2025.
Dessen (pictured below), CFP, brings a wealth of experience from a distinguished 24-year career with Citibank, during which she held leadership positions in the treasury and asset management divisions. Dessen started and led her own company in 1994, becoming a leading executive in professional development, strategy, and leadership.
Twenty years later, in 2014, Dessen began a new career as an independent financial planner. In 2000, Dessen was a founding board member of Planejar, FPSB’s network organization in Brazil, where she still holds positions as a member of the Executive Committee, the Administration Board, and as coordinator of the Certification Commission.
From 2010 to 2022, Dessen published two books and authored a weekly personal finance column for one of Brazil’s largest newspapers, making a positive impact on society.
Karsten, (pictured below) CFP, CFA, has 33 years of experience in the wealth and asset management industry, with previous positions at Matrix Bank, Bank of Boston, UBS and Citibank. From 2016 to 2022, he served as CEO of GPS, which recently became Julius Baer Family Office. He is currently the CEO of Brainvest Brazil.
He holds a degree in Business Administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas and a master’s degree in Economics (strictu senso) from the same university. He has also completed a course in Strategy from IMD (International Institute for Management Development) and holds the CFA and CFP certifications. He is a board member of Planejar and serves as the president of the Certification Committee of ANBIMA.
FPSB board chairperson Ana Cláudia Akie Utumi, CFP, said: “We look forward to welcoming Marcia and Jan to the FPSB Board of Directors.
“Both bring incredibly valuable skill sets to further strengthen our Board including Jan’s expertise in wealth management in Latin America and Marcia’s vast experience in certification and standards. Their commitment to excellence in financial planning, and visionary leadership will be instrumental in driving our strategic initiatives to advance financial planning as a global profession with CFP marks its symbol of excellence.”
The newly appointed board members will join six volunteers from the FPSB board of directors from Australia, Canada, China, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and United States committed to advancing FPSB’s vision, mission and strategies forward.
Additional elected FPSB Network leadership positions include:
• FPSB Council: Kirsty Scully, CFP, Board Chairperson of Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa, was elected to serve a one-year term as chairperson of the FPSB Council commencing on 1 January 2025.
• FPSB Nominating Committee: Barak Atzili, CFP, President of Financial Planners Association in Israel, Lelané Bezuidenhout, CFP, CEO of Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa, and Mark Dukers, CFP, Director of Federatie Financieel Planners (the Netherlands), will each serve a one-year term as a member of the FPSB Nominating Committee on 1 April 2025.
• FPSB Chief Executives Committee (CEC): Christopher Morris, Head of Financial Planning Policy & Engagement of Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (UK), will join the FPSB CEC as an at-large representative for a three-year term starting 1 January 2025.
• FPSB Asia-Pacific Forum: Cathy Zhang, CFP, Chair and CEO of Financial Planning Standards Board China Ltd., will serve a two-year term as chairperson of the FPSB Asia-Pacific Forum starting 1 January 2025.
• FPSB European Forum: Emer Kirk, CFP, CEO of Financial Planning Standards Board Ireland will serve a second two-year term as chairperson of the FPSB European Forum commencing on 1 January 2025.
