CFP Board Appoints Elizabeth M. Stewart, Esq. as Chief Operating Officer

Elizabeth Maza Stewart, Esq. – a strategic marketing, branding
and communications executive – has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc (CFP Board). 

In this new position, Stewart will be responsible for growing awareness of CFP® certification while ensuring that the CFP® certification program remains highly respected, relevant and responsive to the public’s needs for competent and ethical financial planning. In addition, she will direct efforts to provide timely and professional services to our stakeholders as well as developing CFP Board’s workforce to align with the organization’s strategic priorities.  She will be a member of the Executive Leadership team reporting to Chief Executive Officer Kevin R. Keller, CAE. Stewart begins January 17, 2017.

“Elizabeth has significant and relevant experience in management and corporate branding that will benefit CFP Board’s mission and strategic priorities,” said Keller. “Her success in raising the visibility of the architecture profession at the American Institute of Architects and her brand experience with the American Red Cross will serve CFP Board well as we continue to raise the awareness of the CFP® certification and this emerging profession among many audiences. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team. “ 

Stewart is a senior marketing executive with more than 30 years of experience in both private and non-profit organizations.  From 2004 to 2011, she worked at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as a Vice President.  At AIA she directed the national advertising program that generated annual increases in AIA awareness and the American public’s desire to hire an AIA architect. As part of her work, she was instrumental in securing the introduction of America’s Favorite Architecture to Google Earth during the AIA’s 150^th celebration. Stewart was also responsible for the AIA’s annual continuing education conference and trade show.

As Director of Brand Research and Strategy at the American Red Cross, she led an organization-wide, data-driven brand strategy to achieve significant increases in unaided awareness by the general public.

“It is a privilege to be joining CFP Board – an organization that has a reputation for excellence and achievement,” said Stewart. “There has been great success in growing awareness of CFP® certification. I look forward to building on that success and further strengthening the importance and value of the CFP® certification brand while attracting the best talent to this high-performing organization.”

Prior to joining CFP Board, Stewart taught Contemporary Marketing at the Catholic University of America and was a strategic consultant to respected professional membership organizations.

She earned her B.A. in Economics from the University of the Philippines, her M.A. in Economics from George Mason University and her Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America.  She is a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Architecture at the University of Hawaii and is an attorney volunteer at Hogar Immigrant Services.