ISTAT News | 01 April 2020

ISTAT Announces New Executive Director

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of the ISTAT Board of Directors, I would like to inform you of a change in ISTAT’s organizational leadership.

Late last year, ISTAT’s executive director, Julie Wichlin, shared her decision to pursue other ventures with the board. As many of you who have worked with Julie know, she has been instrumental in helping ISTAT evolve into the organization that we are today. Over the past five years, Julie has been an invaluable partner to the ISTAT board and members. During her tenure we added many new events and offerings and saw growth not only in ISTAT's membership as a whole, but also across those offerings. We are forever grateful for her hard work, dedication and passion for our organization.

In order to properly evaluate candidates for Julie’s replacement, the ISTAT Board of Directors appointed a task force that began working in November. The task force was committed to identifying a strong partner to our increasingly diverse membership, as well as someone who will continue to support the vision of our growing global organization. 

The task force conducted a thorough and thoughtful search process, which included the evaluation of many qualified candidates. At the conclusion of that process, earlier this month, the board selected and is now pleased to announce the appointment of Guilherme Lopes as ISTAT’s new executive director.

Guilherme is an accomplished executive who is joining ISTAT after serving as the Managing Director of Global Relations & Development for the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). IIA is a not-for-profit association with 200,000 members in more than 170 countries. In this role, Guilherme was deeply involved in the expansion of the IIA’s global footprint, as well as in membership strategies and delivery of products and services worldwide. Guilherme graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona. 

Guilherme assumed the role of ISTAT Executive Director as of 30 March. 

Please join me in thanking Julie for her unwavering commitment to our organization, and welcome Guilherme to the ISTAT community. I look forward to introducing him to you in the near future. 

Regards,

Gerry Butler
ISTAT President