The West Midlands Area of CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, has elected Paul Hooper–Keeley as its new chairman.

Mr Hooper–Keeley, who has been involved with CIMA in the Midlands for 16 years, has been elected to the role for a two-year term of office by fellow CIMA members.

Based near Lichfield, he has worked as a management accountant in the SME sector for 31 years, the last 19 of which were at finance director level.

For the last 11 years Mr Hooper–Keeley has provided interim finance director services across the UK and set-up his own company, Intervallum, six years ago.

He said: “I was honoured and delighted to be elected by my CIMA peers to the prestigious role of chairman of CIMA West Midlands.

“As chairman, my main focus will be to drive towards CIMA’s strategic goals.

“Our specific objective this year is to actively engage with members and students, particularly through networking and continuing professional development, to help them feel supported and part of a community.”

Mr Hooper–Keeley added: “I am keen to ensure we run a range of interesting events with high-profile speakers that will provide learning and development opportunities, as well as a social occasion, for management accountants in the West Midlands.”

A former president of CIMA’s North West Midlands branch from 2003 to 2005 and again from 2010 to 2013, Mr Hooper–Keeley is also a West Midlands ambassador for the IOD’s Chartered Director qualification, a Chartered Manager via the Chartered Management Institute and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management.

Married with a daughter, he lives in Fradley near Lichfield and is currently undertaking a part-time PhD at the University of Derby.