Rob Whiteman has been CIPFA CEO since September 2013. Before joining the Institute, he was a senior civil servant who worked as the Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency and had previously led the Improvement and Development Agency. Prior to this he was CEO of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Director of Resources at the London Borough of Lewisham.

Whiteman is a well-known commentator and writer on public service reform and modernisation on a wide range of areas and in 2008 was named one of the ten most influential people in local government by the Local Government Chronicle. In 2007 and 2009 he carried out the Capability Reviews of the Department of Health for the Cabinet Office. An accountant by profession, he has held several local government finance advisory roles for the Local Government Association and CIPFA, and for many years served as secretary to the Society of London Treasurers.