Introducing – The New Praxity Board
Wealth of experience and expertise, worldwide
We’re excited to present our new Board: a group of accomplished professionals who will guide our Alliance’s strategic direction, champion global collaboration, and drive Praxity’s continued growth. By combining seasoned expertise with fresh perspectives, this leadership team is well-positioned to serve our members worldwide.
We have also elected new Regional Chairs, each contributing exceptional expertise and leadership within their respective regions.
The Praxity Management Board
The Board is responsible for Praxity’s strategic direction, guiding the Alliance to ensure it remains innovative, collaborative, and impactful worldwide.
Samantha Louis (MBA, FCMA, CGMA) CEO, Praxity Alliance
Samantha is Chief Executive Officer of Praxity Global Alliance, having joined in June 2021 from the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants where she was Vice President in charge of International Advocacy.
Samantha has served on various local and international boards and senior leadership groups, including the Professional Accountancy Organisation Development Committee of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and has extensive experience in several non-executive directorships. She currently serves on the Council and Finance Committee of Roedean School, UK. She is also an Ambassador for the CIMA Women in Leadership programme. In 2023 she received the inaugural International Accounting Bulletin Accounting Leader of the Year Award.
Samantha is a Fellow of CIMA and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. She holds a Batchelors degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and holds post-graduate courses in public relations and management, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration, with distinction, from the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria.
She is married with two adult children. One of the great attractions of the UK being able to go to some of the best theatre in the world. She particularly likes ballet and attends as much of it as she can.
Steffen Ahrens, Managing Partner, FALK GmbH & Co KG, Germany – Chair
Steffen graduated in Business Administration and Economics from the Universities of Mannheim (Germany) and St. Gallen (Switzerland), and is a Managing Partner at FALK in Germany. He has been practicing accounting with an international focus for more than 20 years following a secondment in his early career to Price Waterhouse, New York.
Next to his national German Certified Tax Consultant and CPA title, Steffen also holds a US CPA title and as such oversees the US Desk at FALK in Germany. He is also engaged in expanding the firm’s international outsourcing capabilities.
Jason Drake, Managing Partner, Plante Moran, USA – Vice Chair
Jason serves as Managing Partner at Plante Moran, one of the largest public accounting and business advisory firms in the United States. Previously, he was the group managing partner of the firm’s Illinois, Ohio, and international locations, playing a pivotal role in guiding and connecting leadership throughout the firm.
Jason’s journey with Plante Moran began nearly 25 years ago with an internship. Since then, he’s been fortunate to assist the firm and its people in many capacities, including audit, consulting, and building and expanding the firm’s international practice, which he led for six years. As international practice leader, Jason helped clients expand internationally to over 50 countries, helped foreign companies expand in the United States, and guided the firm as Plante Moran opened offices in China, Mexico, India, and Japan.
In 2015, Jason was recognised by Crain’s Detroit Business as a “40 Under 40” recipient for helping Plante Moran increase international business revenue by 400%. He is a member of the German American Chamber of Commerce, the Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce, the Detroit-China Business Association, the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Corporate Growth, the AICPA, and the Michigan Association of CPAs. Jason is also an alumnus of Michigan State University, receiving a B.S. in accounting with Honours.
Eric Miles, Partner, Chairman & CEO, Moss Adams LLP, USA
Eric is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Moss Adams. As leader of the firm, Eric plays an integral role in executing the firm’s growth strategy and key initiatives to drive continued firm growth alongside employee and client success.
Eric has practiced public accounting since 1997. Prior to his current role, he led the firm’s consulting services, providing oversight of more than 50 distinct practice areas. Throughout his career, Eric’s experience has covered a wide variety of practice areas, including operations, compliance, accounting, information technology, and fraud prevention.
As CEO, Eric is Chair of the firm’s Executive Committee. He is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics including data analytics, strategy, cybersecurity, and enterprise risk management. He was a founding member of the AICPA’s Risk Assurance and Advisory Services Task Force, the goal of which is to position the CPA profession as the leader on enterprise risk management.
Jason Tuffs, Chairman of the Board & CEO, MNP LLP, Canada
As Chairman & CEO, Jason is responsible for enacting MNP’s strategic vision by anticipating market opportunities and trends, encouraging overall growth, fostering a culture of operational efficiency and inspiring team members to continue to deliver the thought-leading solutions and exceptional client experiences the firm is known for.
Jason’s selection as CEO follows a progressive career path with MNP. Since joining the firm in 2004, Jason has held several senior level positions, including National Leader of Public Companies, Regional Managing Partner, Calgary and Executive Vice President, B.C. Jason was also appointed to the Firm's Board of Directors in 2011.
He has a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction from the University of Alberta. Jason is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 2000. Jason gives back to the community by volunteering his time with youth organisations.
Bernardo Del Rio, Managing Partner, J.A. Del Río, Mexico
Bernardo, CPA, is Managing Partner of J.A. Del Rio S.A. De C.V. He is former president of the Tax Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce, Guadalajara Chapter. He has published several articles on tax issues and given lectures in the US and Mexico.
Bernardo is a founding member of the Guadalajara chapter of the International Fiscal Association (IFA). He has advised companies starting up and operating in Mexico, such as Honda, McDonald’s, Samsung, Sumitomo, Berkshire Hathaway, among others, as well as with clients where Mexico may be the first venture outside of their home country. He currently serves as coordinator of the relationship with the American consulate on behalf of AMCHAM Guadalajara Chapter.
Andy Irvine, Partner, Shorts, UK
Andy is Audit and Accounts Partner at Shorts in the UK. He looks after many of the firm’s larger corporate clients for whom he closely monitors their accounting and taxation requirements. Having gained extensive experience working for a ‘Big 4’ firm, Andy is ideally placed to manage and supervise larger assignments.
As a Chartered Tax Adviser, he actively identifies tax planning opportunities for clients and has considerable experience in leading due diligence assignments. Appointed Managing Partner of Shorts in 2017, Andy has been heavily involved in leading the firm's growth strategy which has seen Shorts treble in size during his tenure.
Yuri Zugolaro, Partner, Fidiger S.p.A, Italy
Yuri is a Partner at Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati. He Graduated in Business and Economics at the University of Bologna and is registered with the Padova Association of Chartered Accountants and the Register of Auditors. He is also a member of the Board of Statutory Auditors of major national and international companies.
Yuri has specific expertise in tax and corporate issues, both nationally and internationally, alongside Transfer Pricing operations and M&A transactions. He was a temporary lecturer at the University of Bologna from 2001 to 2007 (matter of degree "Auditing") and taught at the Order of Chartered Accountants of Bologna from 1996 to 2008. Yuri has also been a speaker at various conferences involving tax and corporate issues.
Nikolas Hatzistergos, Executive Chairman, William Buck, Australia
Nikolas is Executive Chairman of William Buck. He qualified from the University of Sydney in 1979 and commenced his employment with a medium sized firm of chartered accountants. He rose quickly through the ranks to become a partner in December 1983. Nikolas is still one of the youngest ever members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants to be granted a practising certificate.
Over the last twenty-five years, Nikolas has acted as an advisor to a large number of businesses involved in the manufacturing and services sector. Nikolas also frequently presents papers on leadership and business management issues and he has authored a number of technical papers that have been published both in Australia and overseas. He is also frequently sought by the Press for his views on accounting and business-related issues.
Marco Carlei, Managing Partner, SW Australia
Marco has been dedicated to the development and expansion of SW International. He was the Managing Director of SW from 2015 to 2017 before becoming the Managing Director of SW International in 2017.
His core expertise is successfully leading and growing professional services firms both at the national and international levels, where strategic growth in a competitive environment is embraced and proactively pursued to create opportunities for the network, partners, staff and clients. The number of SW International member firms doubled since his taking on the role of Managing Director in 2017. Mr Carlei has significant national and international experiences, skills and knowledge across a range of sectors and industries.
Marco has been successfully leading SW Australia, quickly becoming one of the most respected and successful accounting practices in Australia, evidenced by both revenue and profitability, increasing by 230% and 350% respectively.
Before joining SW International, Marco was the Chairman of Moore Stephens Australia and Chairman of Moore Stephens Asia Pacific as well as the Board member of Moore Stephens International from 2010 to 2014.
Phil Verity, CEO, FORVIS Mazars Group, UK (Until 30th June 2025)
Phil is FORVIS Mazars’ UK Senior Partner, elected in September 2012 and has been co-CEO of the Group since December 2012. He was appointed to the Group Executive Board in 2011 and is responsible for the management of the Owner-Managed Businesses (OMB) activity within the Group. Phil has almost 30 years of experience as an auditor and he continues to be actively involved with key clients. He is based in the firm’s London office.
Phil represents the Mazars’ commitment to home-grown talent, having joined the firm as a graduate in 1986. He has been a major contributor to the growth of the UK firm since his appointment as partner in 1999. Prior to his appointment as UK Senior Partner, Phil held a number leadership positions in the UK firm and internationally, including as leader of the middle market business.
The first two years of Phil’s tenure as Senior Partner saw UK income increase by 13% and profits rise 25%.
Matt Snow, Partner, FORVIS Mazars, USA (Until 30th June 2025)
Matt serves as the Chairman of the Governing Board of FORVIS Mazars, working closely with the firm’s leadership team to develop strategy with a keen eye towards the future.
Prior to his role as Chair, Matt served as CEO of DHG, a top 20 professional services firm which merged with BKD to create FORVIS. In his more than 30-year career, Matt has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of leadership roles and to work with clients ranging from start-ups to large national and global organisations. This experience has enabled him to connect with a variety of clients and build a passion for excellent client service.
Matt also served as an audit partner at a Big Four firm where he spent more than 20 years working with public companies in the financial services, manufacturing, and restaurant industries. While a partner, Matt served a rotation in that firm’s national Department of Professional Practice, and he was later named an SEC Partner through which he served in a technical review role on public company audit engagements.
Matt currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and was previously the chairman of the AICPA’s Major Firms Group. He also currently serves on the Managing Board and as Vice Chairman of Praxity, the Global Alliance of firms in which FORVIS is a member. Matt was previously on the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Central Carolinas, where he also served as the Chairman of the Finance Committee. Matt is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has completed Harvard University’s Leading Professional Services Firms program.
Kariem Hoosain, Partner, Audit, FORVIS Mazars, South Africa (Until 30th June 2025)
Kariem is a Chartered Accountant of South Africa and also holds an MBA and has a broad range of experience that he has gained over more than twenty years of executive and senior management positions.
Kariem is currently a Partner at Mazars in South Africa. Mazars is global firm with operations in over 96 countries and more than 30,000 professionals. He is also currently a member of the Mazars Group Africa-Middle East Board and Regional Monitor for Mazars in Africa and was also member of the National Executive Committee and the National Board of Partners.
The New Praxity Regional Chairs
North America
Marc Feigelson, Chief Financial Officer, Kaufman Rossin, USA
Marc is the Chief Financial Officer of Kaufman Rossin and a member of the firm’s management committee, where he works closely with the executive management team to develop strategy for the firm’s future sustainability, growth and profitability.
Marc focuses on Kaufman Rossin’s financial and operational plans in addition to risk management. For nearly 26 years, he has responded to the changes and challenges of public accounting and has been a mentor for young professionals and a champion for the profession. He also retains his involvement in practice as a relationship partner, where he continues to provide advisory services to several long-standing clients.
Marc has a concentrated focus in the real estate, healthcare and professional services sectors, along with substantial experience in transaction advisory services, including M&A deal structuring and complex financial diligence matters.
Marc is a published author and has been quoted in several professional and industry publications. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA). He has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida. Marc lives in Miami with his family, which includes his wife, Lisa, along with a son and daughter aged 15 and 11.
Europe
Dr. Daniel Ternes, Partner, Flick Gocke Schaumburg GmbH (FGS), Germany
Daniel is a Public Auditor (since 2009) and Tax Advisor (since 2007) at German firm FGS, as well as a partner at the firm since 2020. Having studied economics in Bonn (2003 Dipl.-Volkswirt), he received his Doctorate at the Schumpeter School of Business and Economics of the University of Wuppertal (BUW) (2018 Dr. rer. oec.), joining Flicke Gocke Schaumberg in 2003.
As well being a firm partner and practicing professionally, Daniel is a lecturer in finance and corporate governance at the University of Wuppertal.
Daniel's particular focus is on the auditing of annual and consolidated financial statements, national and international accounting and the auditing and implementation of (tax) compliance management systems.
Daniel’s deep experience and extensive academic grounding in business and finance helps him to understand the European region intimately.
Asia Pacific
Roy Lo, Managing Partner, SW Hong Kong
Roy is the Managing Partner of SW Hong Kong, Board Member of SW International and the Chairman of the SW International Brand and Marketing Committee.
He has extensive experience in auditing, business mergers and acquisitions, business appraisal, profit anticipation and listing arrangement for 31 years. He has been involved in numerous IPO projects and has successfully assisted many companies listed on the Main Board and GEM of the HKEX. He regularly contributes articles on corporate governance and internal control to newspapers and professional publications, and was the compliance reviewer of the Best Corporate Governance Awards of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants consecutively from 2013 – 2024.
He has exceptional insights into China, Hong Kong and global markets more generally, and working closely with regulatory bodies and professional institutions across the regions and beyond.
With his professional knowledge and expertise, Roy assumes the roles of:
- Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Association of Registered Public Interest Entity Auditors (PIEAA)
- Chairman of the Accountancy Training Board of Vocational Training Council
- Honorary Court Member of Hong Kong Baptist University
- Member of School Allocation Committee under Education Bureau of HKSAR Government
- Member of 14th Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference
- President and Founder of Accountancy Industry of Young Professionals Alliance.
Roy was also the member of the Financial Reporting Review Panel of Financial Reporting Council from 2015-2018, Divisional President 2019 – Greater China of CPA Australia and the President of The Hong Kong Independent Non-executive Director Association (2021 – 2022).
Latin America & Caribbean
Wesley Montechiari Figueira, Managing Partner - VBR Brasil
Wesley has commanded many audit teams over his career and has been in charge of several IPO processes in the Brazilian markets. He has held senior positions in several industries previously to his current role, with a great deal of responsibility. From this experience, he brings an expert approach to the Brazilian and Latin American markets, as well as the global landscape. Wesley is also fluent in English, French, Spanish and Italian alongside his native Portuguese.
Alongside his role at VBR, Wesley's positions include:
- Professor of Business Valuation and Assessment in the Business Administration Post-Graduate Centre of the Federal University of Paraná State.
- Executive Professor of Estação IBMEC – Brazilian Institute of Capital Markets Studies – Valuation.
A true senior figure in the Brazilian market, Wesley brings his deep experience in Latin America as Regional Chair.
Africa & Middle East
Robert (Bob) Borrill, Managing Partner, Nwanda, South Africa
Bob is the Managing Partner of Nwanda Incorporated. Since his election in 2011 he has shaped the growth and development of the firm.
After graduating from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1984, he specialised and consulted for a number of years in tax and financial management.
Bob subsequently worked in commerce for 13 years and was involved in all levels of management in various groups of companies before returning to the audit profession in 2004, when he joined Nwanda Incorporated.
A key voice in the region with a solid and rigorous background, Bob skilfully handles tax and financial management for Nwanda’s clients. His approach blends practical expertise with a strong dedication to quality, helping clients achieve their financial objectives. With an intimate knowledge of local and international markets, Bob is the perfect chair for the rapidly-growing Africa & Middle East region.