Indy Singh Hothi CA becomes new President of ICAS
Indy Singh Hothi CA, co-founder of Upside Projects, has been appointed as the new President of ICAS for 2022/23.
Indy was confirmed as President at the ICAS Annual General Meeting on Friday 29 April 2022.
Indy takes over from Bruce Pritchard CA, Chief Executive Officer - International of Liminal BioSciences, and will serve a year in office.
Indy is currently the co-founder of Upside Projects, a consultancy and venture builder which provides strategic advice on digital transformation, innovation and sustainability to public and private sector clients. Indy is also a cultural advisor to the Mayor of London and Greater London Authority.
Prior to Upside Projects, Indy was a senior economist with EY in London. He worked across a number of high-profile economic impact studies which influenced public policy and included clients such as the Premier League and Rugby World Cup.
Through his passion for social and humanitarian causes, Indy was a trustee and director of Khalsa Aid International, a charity which provides humanitarian aid in disaster areas and civil conflict zones. The charity was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. His work has led him to the frontline on a number of projects including Iraq, DR Congo, Lebanon, Nepal and Haiti.
Indy was recognised as One Young CA in 2015 and joined ICAS Council in 2016, representing the England and Wales area and supporting engagement with under 35s and the broader London community.
In addition to the appointments he holds as President, Indy attends the Nominations Committee and has been closely involved in the work of the EDI Committee. Indy served as Vice President 2020/2021 and Deputy President in 2012/22.
Commenting on his appointment, Indy said:
“I’m thrilled to be able to build upon my years as an ICAS Office Bearer by taking up the role of ICAS President.
“With the worst days of the pandemic firmly behind us there’s a natural and widely shared desire for everything to return to ‘normal’. However, what’s abundantly clear is that the experience of COVID not only changed our perceptions of what ‘normal’ means but also provided us with invaluable opportunities for change.
“We now find ourselves poised at a junction: do we turn and look back or do we break the mould and set our focus on a new and improved future? The role of CAs in reaching this new future is clear: we must continue leading from the front and act as positive change-makers within the worlds of business, finance and society in general.
“As a collective profession, and as individual CAs, we must act upon the lessons we’ve learned during the past few years and help to create organisations that are even stronger and more successful.
“I look forward to representing CAs as President of ICAS for the coming year, and working together with Members and the Office Bearer team to safeguard the sustainable future of the profession and maintain the power of accountancy as a force for good.”
Supporting Indy in his role as President are Clive Bellingham CA, who has been appointed Deputy President of ICAS, and Alison Cornwell CA, who has been appointed Vice President of ICAS.
Bruce Cartwright CA, ICAS Chief Executive, said:
“I have had the pleasure of working with Indy over a number of years. He brings positive challenge in a number of areas, not least in his strong desire to create a truly inclusive network within ICAS and the wider business community. This is invaluable in his role as our new ICAS President for 2022/23.
“I would also like to congratulate Clive Bellingham CA and Alison Cornwell CA, who have been appointed as our new Deputy President and Vice President.
“As we finally exit from the pandemic our ICAS Office Bearers, Indy, Clive and Alison, will play a key role with the Executive team in in building an exciting future for ICAS.”
Deputy President and Vice President 2022/23
Clive Bellingham CA, who has been appointed Deputy President of ICAS, retired in 2021 from his role as a Partner at PwC where his leadership roles took him to all parts of the world. As a member of PwC’s Global Board for 8 years, Clive contributed to the governance and oversight of a network that covers more than 150 countries. He chaired the Clients & Markets Committee for 4 years and retains a position on the PwC India Advisory Board.
Clive joined PwC in Glasgow in 1984 after qualifying as a CA with Bird Simpson & Co in Dundee. He has worked for PwC in Scotland, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, where he has been resident since 1987.
Having benefited from a wide range of influences and experiences during his career, Clive is an advocate of diversity in business. In 2016 he joined the board of Advance, a non-profit association set up by leading Swiss-based companies to increase the representation of women at the executive level.
Clive was elected to Council in 2016 as the Europe seat member and has served on Members Board and the Audit & Risk Committee. Clive served as Vice President 2021/2022.
Alison Cornwell CA, who has been appointed Vice President of ICAS, is a CFO of PE backed businesses in the creative industries sector.
Alison qualified as a CA with C&L Glasgow in 1990 and spent 5 years in corporate finance in London before joining The Walt Disney Company where she was CFO for Disney’s TV distribution, Disney Channel and TV equity investment portfolio successfully driving its expansion in all markets outside the USA.
In 2005 Alison was appointed CFO of a private equity backed international TV broadcasting business which she and her colleagues improved and transformed and sold to NBC Universal in 2007. Following this Alison was appointed CFO of a Goldman Sachs backed international film distribution and film financing company with notable titles including The Woman In Black starring Daniel Radcliffe. After a number of corporate acquisitions Alison led the exit process and sale of the business to a trade player in 2013.
Alison has held a number of non-executive positions; She was a member of the Board of Governors of the British Film Institute from 2013 to 2018 in addition to being the Chair of its Audit Committee. In 2016 Alison also joined the board of CMI, a Scottish charity which runs the Edinburgh International Film Festival.