Press release, September 21, 2009
Knud Henning Andersen Takes Over as EFPA Chairman
The European Financial Planning Association (EFPA)Voted at their Quarterly Board Meeting for Danish Financial Services Educator and Innovator, Knud Henning Andersen, to Lead EFPA into its Next Phase of Evolution.
Mr. Henning Andersen, Executive Director of the Danish Bankers Association, replaces long time EFPA Chairman and highly respected driver of Spanish financial services qualification and certification development, Mr. Josep Soler-Albertí. The election marked the end of five years of outstanding growth and progress under the guidance of Chairman Soler-Albertí. During his tenure as Chairman, EFPA enlarged its Affiliate base to include Belgium, Poland and France and saw new and stronger supporting organisations join in the Netherlands and Germany. Chairman Soler-Albertí has also positioned EFPA for continued growth beyond his Chairmanship, having signed letters of intent with; the Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Portugal and Andorra. Austria will be the next European country to join EFPA after a vote by the Board of Directors. Chairman Soler- Albertí also helped to expand EFPA’s influence on a global scale. As a result of Mr. SolerAlbertí’s efforts, EFPA now has operations in five Latin American countries which also makes EFPA expansion to e.g. francophone countries a real possibility after the success in Spanish language markets. Chairman Soler-Albertí also initiated influential and lasting relationships with the EU and its representatives. In the last four years, EFPA has successfully completed two important EU funded Projects and has submitted multiple “green papers” and advisory opinions regarding European legislation and directives directly impacting the financial advisory sector. Of the Former Chairman, Knud Henning Andersen had this to say: “In his five years as Chairman. Josep was crucial to the development of EFPA. He has been a passionate leader through difficult times. He has expanded membership and led from the front in word and in deed. He has expanded EFPA’s scope of operations to South America and has solidly put EFPA’s footprint on the sector at a global level. His policies have clarified and given greater purpose to the Standards and Qualifications Committee (SQC) and with special EU projects that have helped to enhance EFPA’s reputation in Europe and led to breakthroughs and innovations for EFPA’s qualifications. Through Josep’s leadership, EFPA has gained in strength to allow EFPA to make its own decisions on its own terms and to determine its future.”
EFPA will still benefit from Mr. Soler- Albertí’s years of knowledge and experience as he will stay on as vice-Chairman of the Association for at least one three year term. He will also remain in his position as Board Director at EFPA Spain, where his career with EFPA began. Mr. Soler- Albertí had this to say to the incoming Chairman: “Knud, I wish you the best in this new and exciting endeavour. You take the reins of EFPA in a period of great tumult in the financial services sector and for EFPA, a time of great opportunity. You and your organisation have been pivotal to professionalising the operations of EFPA and EFPA is fortunate to have your guidance and leadership in these critical times. I look forward to working together with you to help EFPA achieve its mission and to take the Association to the next level.”
For more information about the €uropean Financial Planning Association please see www.efpa-europe.org - email info@efpa-europe.org. Tel: +31 10 240 0225