South African CFP Professional Joins Financial Planning Standards Board to Lead Stakeholder Engagement Function
DENVER, CO – 16 MARCH 2020 – Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB Ltd.), owner of the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification program outside the United States, today announced that David Kop, CFP, has joined FPSB Ltd. to lead its Stakeholder Engagement function. Kop will focus on aligning FPSB Ltd.’s global network of affiliate organizations (collectively, the FPSB Network) around: enhanced cross-border recognition for CFP certification; advocacy with local, regional and global regulatory authorities; thought leadership on the integration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors into financial planning globally; and agenda planning for FPSB Ltd.’s global strategy sessions. In addition, Kop will coordinate FPSB Ltd.’s engagement of organizations throughout Africa interested in offering CFP certification.
In a first for FPSB Ltd., Kop has been seconded to work for FPSB Ltd. 50% of the time by Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI), FPSB Ltd.’s South African affiliate organization, where he will remain employed as Executive Director for Relevance. Kop’s appointment is part of an FPSB Ltd. initiative to support knowledge sharing, strategic alignment and cultural exchange within the FPSB Network in pursuit of its 2020 strategic priorities.
“I am pleased to welcome David Kop to the FPSB Ltd. leadership team as our first seconded employee,” said Noel Maye, FPSB Ltd. CEO. “As a respected participant in the global FPSB Network, a leader within our South African affiliate organization and a long-time CFP professional, David brings a depth of experience and insight to FPSB Ltd. that will help us to address the challenges and opportunities facing our organization and the global financial planning profession.”
“I’m excited to pioneer this global program with FPSB Ltd.,” said David Kop, CFP, Executive Director for Relevance at FPI, FPSB Ltd.’s South African Affiliate. “I strongly believe in FPSB Ltd.’s vision of a globally-recognized financial planning profession, with CFP certification its symbol of excellence, and look forward to creating further opportunities for connectivity and collaboration among the global FPSB Network, for the benefit of the public.”
Kop has worked in financial services for over 20 years, having spent the last seven years at FPI in various roles in Relevance, Stakeholder Engagement, Public Policy and Consumer Affairs, Membership and Corporate Relations and Policy and Research. Previously, he ran his own financial planning practice, worked as a paraplanner and tied financial advisor, and lectured at a private college. A South African CFP professional, Kop has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Johannesburg, a graduate diploma in financial planning from the University of the Free State and a certificate in administration of estates and financial planning services from the University of South Africa.
About FPSB Ltd.
FPSB Ltd. manages, develops and operates certification, education and related programs to benefit the global community by establishing, upholding and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning. FPSB Ltd. demonstrates its commitment to excellence with the marks of professional distinction – CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo Mark – which it owns outside the United States. FPSB Ltd. and the FPSB global network administer CFP and other certification programs in the following 27 territories: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, People’s Republic of China, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. At the end of 2019, there were 188,104 CFP professionals worldwide. For more, visit fpsb.org.
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