Deloitte appoints Allee Bonnard as its first female head of audit
- Allee Bonnard will take over from Paul Stephenson as managing partner for audit and assurance at Deloitte on January 1.
- Paul Stephenson has held the role for the past four years.
- This appointment is a significant step towards improving gender equality in leadership positions at Deloitte.
Deloitte has announced that, starting January 1, Allee Bonnard will lead its audit and assurance business, marking a notable milestone as she becomes the first woman to hold this position in the firm's 179-year history. This significant appointment comes after Paul Stephenson's tenure as managing partner for audit and assurance, which lasted four years. Born in 1845 from an accountancy firm created by William Welch Deloitte in London, the company has evolved over the decades but has faced criticism regarding gender equality within its top ranks until recently. Bonnard, at 47, expressed her pride in breaking this gender barrier and acknowledged the progress made towards gender equality while recognizing that more efforts are still necessary to enhance diversity and equal representation within the organization. Her leadership is expected to inspire greater inclusivity in a male-dominated industry and reflect the firm's commitment to changing dynamics regarding women's roles in corporate leadership positions.