Longtime ACFE President Retires; New President and CEO Named

FROM THE FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN

Dr. Joseph T. Wells, CFE, CPA

As your founder and chairman, it is with both sadness and joy that I am advising you of President James D. Ratley’s retirement last month on his 30th anniversary with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Thousands of you have met Jim; he has given countless presentations at events and local chapters while logging millions of miles on several continents.

In 1988, with Jim by my side, I started the ACFE with a thought, not knowing just how big that one idea would become. Today, we have more than 80,000 members in 180 nations. Simply put, there would be no Association of Certified Fraud Examiners without James D. Ratley.

I am personally sad about his retirement because I will miss seeing him regularly at the office; Jim has become my closest friend and stalwart colleague. But with that sadness comes joy for Jim and for the future of the ACFE. At age 68, he is still young and healthy enough to truly enjoy retirement by pursuing his many outside interests.

When Jim and I began your association, we recognized that it was our duty to ensure the ACFE would live on after us. Just as I assured you of our strength during my own retirement four years ago, we’ve worked to make certain that our management ranks are strong, experienced and dedicated.

No one exemplifies that more than our former Vice President and Program Director Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, CPA. He was personally selected by Jim for promotion to President and CEO. He has one of the brightest minds around, and I am confident he will put his own personal stamp on our continued growth and professional direction.

Prior to joining the ACFE 11 years ago, Bruce was a prosecutor specializing in white-collar crime. Rather than me telling you more about Bruce, watch the video below so he can introduce himself to you personally.

While significant changes require foresight and organization, we have planned for the transition from Jim to Bruce to be seamless. Even Jim’s trusty assistant of 13 years, Ms. Jenny Carnahan, will be reporting to Bruce. And, as always, the ACFE staff is dedicated to making your membership as valuable and accessible as it can possibly be.

If you would like to share a memory of Jim or leave him a message, we invite you to post a comment below. We would love to hear about all of the many memories and stories you have shared with Jim over the years.

We will all be forever in Jim’s debt and wish him Godspeed for the future.