Contact: Lisa Samuels, Director of Marketing & Membership
lsamuels@tei.org; 202-464-8340
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 20, 2021) — On behalf of the Board of Directors, Tax Executives Institute International President James A. Kennedy announced A. Pilar Mata has been appointed as TEI’s new Executive Director, effective June 1, 2021. Ms. Mata will be responsible for representing TEI on a day-to-day basis, for guiding and implementing its agenda in consultation with TEI’s International President and Board, and for interacting with TEI’s chapters, committees, government relations, and other constituents. Ms. Mata has been serving as TEI’s Director of Operations for the last six months.
Mr. Kennedy remarked, “As Chair of the Board, I was privileged to serve on a Task Force dedicated to the Executive Director search, along with Senior Vice President Mitch Trager and a diverse group of TEI leaders and Members. It was gratifying that not only was very strong support expressed for our careful, deliberate process, but that Pilar received overwhelming support from the Officers, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Task Force Members alike. TEI has a long history as the premier professional association globally for corporate tax executives and professionals. We navigated the changes thrust upon us by COVID, reacted strongly and creatively to continue our mission, and are focused on continuing to deliver outstanding professional value to our Members. Seeing Pilar at the helm gives us great confidence as we ‘Choose our Path’ for the years ahead.”
Ms. Mata joined TEI as Tax Counsel in 2015, where she supported TEI's State and Local Tax, European Indirect Tax, and Canadian Commodity Tax Committees in their advocacy and educational efforts on behalf of the Institute. She was elevated to TEI’s Director of Operations in December 2020, when she assumed responsibility for the day-to-day operations of TEI and led the Institute's team of professionals. Before joining TEI, Ms. Mata provided her clients with strategic advice on state and local tax matters and represented them in controversy matters at the audit, administrative, trial, and appellate levels at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP (2009-2015) and Morrison & Foester LLP (2000-2009).
Ms. Mata earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law in 2000, her Masters of Science in Finance (honors) from San Diego State University in 1994, her Bachelors in Business Administration (cum laude) from the University of San Diego in 1992, and her California CPA license in 2000 (inactive). She is a frequent author and speaker, and holds positions on the Advisory Board for NYU's Institute on State and Local Taxation and New York State's Tax Appeals Tribunal Advisory Panel. Ms. Mata was recognized by State Tax Notes in 2017 for her work on the partnership audit rules project.
ABOUT TAX EXECUTIVES INSTITUTE
TEI was founded in 1944 to serve the professional and educational needs of in-house tax professionals. Today, the organization has 57 chapters with over 7,000 members representing 2,800 of the leading companies in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. TEI represents a cross-section of the business community and is dedicated to the development of sound tax policy, compliance with and uniform enforcement of tax laws, and minimization of compliance and administrative costs to the mutual benefit of taxpayers and government.
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