Gilbert Gélard

Gilbert Gélard was appointed to the IASB in January 2001.

He had been on the Board of the International Accounting Standards Committee since 1989, serving in the French delegation.

His professional career covered most aspects of financial reporting, auditing and standard-setting.

After graduating from Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC), the leading French business school, in 1963, he joined Arthur Andersen & Co. He qualified as a French chartered accountant and auditor in 1975.

From 1973 to 1987, he was the chief accounting officer of two large French industrial groups, one engaged in publishing and the media, the other in oil and gas.

He joined the French Professional Institute in 1987, and was in charge of technical and international affairs until 1995.

During that period, he was active in FEE, the European professional body, dealing there with European accounting matters, and took various initiatives to upgrade accountancy in Eastern Europe and Africa, while also representing France on the IASC Board.

He returned to the auditing profession in 1995, joining KPMG France, in charge of the Professional Practice department.

Mr Gélard was a member of the French standard-setting body (CNC) from 1997 until his appointment to the IASB.

He has written many articles and books on accounting matters and is a frequent lecturer in universities and speaker at conferences, being able to communicate in several languages.