Two new members join the 2025–2026 ACFE Board of Regents

Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE) elected Annemari Krugel, CFE, and Mark J. Sullivan, CFE, CPP, CFI, to the 2025–2026 Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Board of Regents. They took their oaths of office during the board’s February meeting. Also, during the meeting, Kimberly A. Howell, CFE, was named chair, and Robert J. Smolich, CFE, was named vice chair.

“We’re thrilled to have Annemari and Mark join the Board of Regents,” says ACFE Chief Training Officer Andi McNeal, CFE, CPA. “They both bring immense experience, knowledge and dedication to the oversight of our profession, and we look forward to working with them in this role.”

The new Regents replace outgoing board members Natalie Lewis, CFE, and Tom Caulfield, CFE.

“We’re deeply grateful for the leadership and care that Natalie and Tom provided during their time on the board,” says McNeal. “They judiciously upheld our membership standards, provided invaluable insight into our profession and helped guide the future of CFE credential. We appreciate all their contributions both as Regents and as they continue to be leaders in the anti-fraud profession.”

Annemari Krugel, CFE

Annemari Krugel, CFE, is a director in the forensic services department at BDO and leads a team that provides comprehensive, integrated forensic services, including fraud investigations, anti-corruption compliance, forensic technology services and financial reporting disputes. She collaborated with the South African Police Service on several high-profile projects in South Africa that successfully exposed and prosecuted corruption, fraud, statutory and other related offenses. Krugel also presided over cases that involved the misuse or misappropriation of billions of rands and has more than 37 years of experience in criminal justice, forensic investigations and prosecutions.

Krugel has been appointed to the South African Chapter of the ACFE (ACFE SA) Board of Directors as a nonexecutive legal director and as the chapter’s vice president. She spoke about whistleblowing in South Africa at the 39th International Symposium on Economic Crime at the University of Cambridge in September 2022 and was a 2024 featured expert on investigations and white-collar crime in Financier Worldwide.

Mark J. Sullivan, CFE, CPP, CFI

Mark J. Sullivan, CFE, CPP, CFI, retired in May 2024 after 15 years as a senior partner and co-global leader of the forensic and investigation services practice at Grant Thornton LLP (GT). He obtained his CFE credential while working in the fraud and security consulting practice at Arthur Andersen & Co. Throughout his career in fraud prevention and detection, Sullivan conducted risk assessments and worked on behalf of boards of directors and special committees for multinational companies across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Sullivan previously served as president of the Greater Chicago Chapter of the ACFE and chair of the ACFE Foundation Board of Directors. He’s director certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors and served as chair of the risk committee on GT’s partnership board. He currently serves on the advisory board of the International Association of Interviewers and is a Certified Forensic Interviewer.