IAm Jeffrey Ridley

I began my audit career in 1953 as an external auditor in Her Majesty’s Overseas Audit Service, working in Nigeria. By 1971, I was head of the internal audit function of Eastman Kodak’s U.K. subsidiary.

In 1974, I earned the Certified Internal Auditor certification. The next year I was elected the first president of The IIA’s newly formed U.K. chapter, which is now known as the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (CIIA). Since that time, I’ve been proud to witness the CIIA grow to more than 10,000 members.

Throughout my career, I’ve advocated for innovative auditing that addresses environmental, social, and governance issues in every assignment.

Over the years, I have seen the profession evolve through developments such as a common body of knowledge, competency framework, certifications, and the Global Internal Audit Standards. Internal auditing has embraced these advancements to achieve excellence in organizations worldwide.

I am proud to have been involved with internal auditing for more than 70 years. I’ve been a witness to, and participated in, the profession being recognized globally across all sectors of society.