A new IASB Chair is announced!

His name is Sam Woods, and here’s the bio:

• Mr. Woods is a recognized leader in international financial regulation, having previously served as Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and Chief Executive Officer of the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). He succeeds Andreas Barckow, whose term as IASB Chair concluded in June 2026. Mr Woods is appointed for a five-year term.
• Before joining the PRA, Mr Woods held various senior roles in HM Treasury in the UK, the New Zealand Treasury and in the private sector. Originating from New Zealand, Mr Woods holds an MBA from INSEAD and is a graduate of the University of Oxford.

Marek Muc pointed out: “Couldn’t help noticing that the new IASB chair doesn’t seem to have any substantial accounting background. But perhaps this is a role that’s more about politics than technical accounting…” Well, a good point. But a brief online search at least suggests Woods is a decent, down-to-earth sort (“When not commuting into town by pedalpower, he says he takes the Number 88 bus [“it sounds childish, but I love going on the top deck”]).  Another slight caveat though: when one referred to the Chairs of the past – Andreas Barckow, Hans Hoogervorst, even David Tweedie – there was no chance of confusion, for example of one person talking about accounting’s Andreas Barckow while another was thinking of a renowned deep-sea diver of the same name. Such is not the case with Sam Woods – in fact, even the gender of the Sam Woods being referred to might occasionally be in doubt. See for yourself!

• Tiger Woods is undeniably one of the greatest golfers of all time, with an exceptional career that has left a lasting impact on the sport. But beyond the fame and success, Tiger Woods is also a doting father to his daughter, Sam Woods.
• …While much of Sam Woods’ life has remained out of the public eye, we know that she is a passionate equestrian. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding and has even competed in a few local events. This hobby allows her to pursue her own passions and interests independently.
• Sam also has a strong online presence, particularly on Instagram, where she occasionally shares glimpses of her life. This includes posting photos of her time spent with friends, family, and of course, her beloved horses. Through her social media activity, Sam showcases her vibrant personality and her journey to find her own identity.
• …As Sam Woods continues to grow and mature, we eagerly await the next chapter of her journey. As she blossoms into a remarkable young woman, she will undoubtedly carry the lessons and values passed down from her father. And no matter what she chooses to pursue, the world will be watching, cheering her on every step of the way.

Just as one imagines the world will be cheering every step taken by the IASB’s new Sam Woods. One hopes that his time spent on bikes and the Number 88 bus keeps him away from the horses, or the confusion might become insurmountable. And even on the solely male side of the ledger, clarity can’t necessarily be guaranteed:

• Sam has built an enviable career starting with affiliate marketing and moving into AI, all of it built on the foundational skills he learned from copywriting.
• When I spoke with Sam Woods, he’d just returned from an invigorating, “unplugged” week of hiking in Sweden and reported feeling poised for forward motion after his time away from technology. That approach toward resting, resetting, and restarting has served him well in his career, as Sam’s business is thriving on the cutting edge of AI technology. But as you’ll read below, the foundation for everything he’s built starts with copywriting. 
• Q You ended up in copywriting out of a fluke, correct?
• A Yes. I worked on a cruise ship some 13 years ago and came back to stay with a friend. He was on his laptop four, five, eight hours a day. I asked him, “What do you do? Because you don’t leave the apartment to go to a job, apparently.” Then he introduced me to the world of affiliate marketing. And from that I got into copywriting.

There’s also the Tour Guide and Author at Tropical Birding Tours,  the New Zealand-based actor and talent (all the more potential for confusion here because it appears the IASB’s Woods was also born in New Zealand), and others. But of course, none of that amounts to a criticism of the Woods appointment. Indeed, I imagine many accountants might be quite happy to, for instance, be subliminally reminded of golf whenever his name comes up. But I’d hate any of you to suffer avoidable embarrassment so please, for your own sake, for all our sakes, navigate those Woods with care!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author.