This past January, Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, took the reins as CEO of the American Institute of CPAs and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. In the summer 2025 issue of NewsAccount, he shares what he’s most looking forward to as he moves the Association and the CPA profession into the future.

In assuming the AICPA CEO role, Koziel, who previously worked for the AICPA for 15 years in multiple roles before serving as president and CEO of Allinial Global from 2020 to 2024, succeeded Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, the longest-serving CEO in AICPA history. 

Koziel has been a leader and an advocate for accountants. He has appeared among the top 10 of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and has been named to the International Accounting Bulletin’s Global Accounting Power 50 List.

“From the start, I have absolutely loved the CPA profession,” Koziel says. ”I actively promote and encourage others to consider a career in this great profession. I've been fortunate to encounter and accomplish many things, gaining experience in public accounting, corporate finance, politics, and public affairs.”

Among Koziel’s top priorities in the first year of his tenure as CEO are:

1. Advancing discussions that are already underway to create an additional pathway to CPA licensure
2. Reconnecting with and listening to AICPA members
3. Reconnecting with AICPA team members

He sees many opportunities to continue enhancing the accounting profession, including a focus on increasing the talent pipeline, ESG and sustainability, artificial intelligence as a means to reduce mundane tasks and allow for more focus on client-facing tasks, and expanding services like client advisory services. 

Read the full article, “Q&A with AICPA’s New CEO: What Mark Koziel Wants You to Know,” reprinted with permission from the Indiana CPA Society, in the summer 2025 issue of NewsAccount. 

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