Position Summary

The CFA Institute is poised to shape the future of the investment industry and profession by providing a clear, unbiased, and authoritative voice on investment practices and outcomes. In order to continue to evolve and grow the CFA program globally, the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will balance stewardship of the CFA charter with expansion into adjacent offerings, translating strategy into measurable impact while preserving the distinctiveness of the CFA charter in an increasingly competitive and technology- and AI-disrupted landscape. The new CEO will diversify the Institute's portfolio of learning products and grow its membership, while bolstering its global status as a trusted authority. The next CEO will drive success, unify and energize the organization internally, develop and align the Institute’s financial, operational, technological, and human resources, and engage stakeholders globally to secure the Institute's continued position and impact.

The CEO role can be based in Charlottesville, New York City or London.

Reports to
Board of Governors

Direct reports
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
Chief People Officer
Chief Information Officer and Managing Director, Technology and AI Solutions
Managing Director, Education
Managing Director, Global Partnerships & Client Solutions
Managing Director, Institutional Solutions
Managing Director, Research & Policy Center

Other key relationships
Global CFA Society Leadership
Global CFA Member Community
Governmental/Regulatory Agencies
Trade and Consumer Media
Academic and Industry leaders
Key Industry Leaders

• Establish clarity and alignment with the Board of Governors and staff around the CFA Institute's strategic plan and vision, ensuring financial sustainability and advancing the organization’s distinction.
• Effectively steward and champion public awareness and other initiatives that promote the CFA accreditation around the world.
• Continue to strengthen the core CFA program, but also diversify the Institute's portfolio of learning products, focusing on job-relevant, skills-based learning.
• Oversee the development of an onboarding and upskilling B2B offering which serves employer needs.
• Anticipate how industry changes in technology and AI affect the profession and translate that into product and service strategies.
• Enhance, refine, and rebuild existing products and offerings to be customer-centric, ensuring they reach their intended customer base and can be translated and tailored to local markets.

• Evolve and grow the CFA program, ensuring its relevance and extending its reach to increase market penetration and membership across the globe.
• Protect the competitiveness of the CFA charter relative to other credentials and providers.
• Improve global member retention and satisfaction by delivering improved value to members.
• Increase the Institute's brand awareness and membership support from top global asset management firms.
• Strengthen the certification pipeline through market-attuned products and employer relevance.
• Play a visible role in addressing industry-wide workforce challenges.

• Uphold and enforce the highest competency and ethical standards for CFA certification.
• Lead the CFA Institute's advocacy efforts, representing the profession’s interests in public policy matters.
• Strengthen compliance with regulatory, tax, and relevant public-company standards.
• Effectively steward and champion public awareness, articulating the continuing relevance of the CFA in a changing market.

• Effectively partner with the Board of Governors, ensuring strong communication and alignment.
• Strengthen the relationships between global leadership and local societies, maintaining consistent worldwide standards while enabling locally relevant offerings and community engagement.
• Engage effectively with all global stakeholders including certificants, the public, large financial firms, regulators, standards-setters, and policymakers, to build trust, foster collaboration and raise the CFA Institute's visibility and stature.

• Ensure key skill sets, expertise, and ways of working are in place.
• Cultivate an internal culture of communication, collaboration, and transparency, uniting a globally distributed team.
• Promote staff stability, career development, and an environment that attracts and retains top talent.
• Preserve, recognize, and enhance the Institute’s unique culture of volunteerism, engaging and cultivating its base of volunteers.

• Evaluate and overhaul internal processes, systems, and technological infrastructure to enable the delivery of the Institute's evolving suite of products and programs, and to support the Institute's ongoing growth and development.
• Be alert to strategic disruptors of the profession, particularly related to technology and AI, and ensure the Institute remains ahead of competitive and technological shifts.

The CEO will be a bold, entrepreneurial executive with a demonstrated ability to lead complex organizations and cultivate high-impact relationships at scale. This individual will bring clarity and cohesion to global contexts, combining intellectual agility with sound judgment and demonstrating the ability to synthesize diverse perspectives. A builder and executor, the CEO will unify teams, leading with gravitas and energy as they amplify the CFA Institute’s global brand.

This leader will be an expert relationship-builder, exercising influence through credibility and trust. Resilient, adaptable, and motivated by the CFA Institute's core mission, the CEO will model integrity and responsibility while advancing the Institute's profile thoughtfully and with lasting impact.

Strong business acumen and experience leading and managing a complex organization, preferably on a global basis or in a global context.

Deep leadership experience in investment management / financial services, in the association space, or in the education / educational technology / certification area.

Internal and external stakeholder management and relationship-building skills are essential, so experience as a spokesperson, representing an organization or industry before a variety of audiences is preferred.

Has developed and implemented innovative strategies and programs that further the mission of and/or grow an organization.

Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree and CFA charter strongly preferred.

The CEO will provide the leadership necessary to advance the organization’s work while also partnering with the board and staff to develop strategy by:

• Developing and effectively communicating business plans to achieve organizational objectives, as well as identifying resources, anticipating obstacles, assessing risks and making adjustments as appropriate;
• Collaborating with the Board of Governors to define and execute a long-range strategy that enhances the CFA Institute’s value proposition and competitive position;
• Remaining alert and proactively responsive to shifts in the external landscape, particularly with regard to technology and AI, that may prompt the Institute to adjust its offerings or plans; and
• Enhancing the Institute’s reputation and profile and serving as its emissary through a matrix of thoughtfully curated and meticulously cultivated relationships across sectors and geographies.

The CEO will be an effective, inspirational and persuasive spokesperson and chief advocate for the organization and for the ethics and standards of the CFA profession by:

• Clearly articulating the CFA Institute’s vision and value proposition to key stakeholder groups and the public and serving as the consistent and credible face and voice of the CFA Institute;
• Driving the CFA Institute's overall communications strategy, using all of the available tools and resources to effectively represent and advance the Institute’s messages and appropriately position its mission and goals;
• Leveraging an effective, adaptable communication style, rooted in trust and tailored to different interests, objectives, and concerns and demonstrating an inclusive and collaborative manner; and
• Defending and advocating for the CFA accreditation and serving as the consummate educator on the CFA Institute's role and services.

The CEO will implement strong management procedures and ensure the successful operation and results of the CFA Institute by:

• Assessing the CFA Institute’s programs and services and identifying areas for growth, improvement and change;
• Championing a philosophy and agility to identify and resolve problems and issues likely to impact organizational priorities; Recruiting, retaining, enabling and empowering top-notch talent to implement the CFA Institute's strategic objectives, fostering a culture of excellence, service and teamwork;
• Maintaining strong controls and risk awareness across the organization and;
• Leveraging technology and operations practices throughout the organization to enhance efficiencies and create a culture that demands excellence, accountability, and performance measurement.

• Unquestionable integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness.
• Passionate about the mission of the CFA Institute.
• Global mindset.
• Balances collegiality with performance.

The executive search firm Spencer Stuart has been retained exclusively by the CFA institute to assist in this recruitment. Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited and should be submitted directly to [email protected]  The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

At CFA Institute, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring process. In compliance with wage transparency laws in many of the jurisdictions in which we recruit, we provide the following information regarding compensation for this position:

The base salary range for this position is $500,000 to $700,000, with final determination of total compensation made after consideration of qualifications and experience.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees, including health coverage, generous time off, competitive retirement plans, flexible work options, and wellbeing and development programs. You can learn more on our careers site: Working at CFA Institute | Comprehensive Benefits