Paul O’Connor elected President of Tax Executives Institute (TEI)
Paul O’Connor, Vice President, Taxes for Millipore Corporation in Billerica, Massachusetts, has been elected the President of Tax Executives Institute (TEI), effective August 10. Millipore Corporation is a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
Founded in the United States in 1944, TEI is the preeminent association of in-house tax professionals, and its 7,000 members work for 3,000 of the leading companies in the world. TEI, which has 54 local chapters, is dedicated to the development and effective implementation of sound tax policy and to reducing the cost and burden of tax compliance to the benefit of taxpayers and the government alike. To these ends, TEI comments on proposed legislation and regulations, sponsors educational programs, and provides its members with a forum through which they can meet with government officials, share ideas, and educate themselves.
A member for more than 25 years, Mr. O’Connor previously held several important positions in TEI’s leadership, most recently as Senior Vice President and chair of the Continuing Education Committee. He has been a member of TEI’s Executive Committee and was a Regional Vice President in 2000-2001. He has also chaired TEI’s IRS Administrative Affairs Committee and is a former member of TEI’s State and Local Tax and Nominating Committees. In 2007, he became Treasurer of the Institute. Mr. O’Connor served as President of the New England Chapter in 1996-1997 and was the Chapter’s representative to TEI’s Board of Directors in 2005-2007.
At the Board of Directors meeting immediately following the annual meeting, Mr. O’Connor presented, and the Board affirmed, TEI’s goals for the year. Mr. O’Connor explained that the overarching theme of his term would be TEI 2011 – Join Us, Grow with Us: Educating, Advocating, and Serving the In-House Tax Community. Mr. O’Connor grouped the Institute’s goals into four broad categories:
o Educating: TEI will continue to offer educational programs, both locally and at the Institute level, that enable members at all experience levels to better serve their companies by enhancing not only their technical knowledge, but also their ability to advise business units and management and to represent their companies in dealings with government authorities and other external forums.
o Advocating: TEI will continue to represent the business tax community before governmental authorities, expanding its influence and effectiveness by means of testimony on proposed legislation; amicus briefs; comments on rulings, regulations, and administrative procedures; participation in liaison meetings and other forums; and interaction with non-governmental audiences on tax policy and administrative issues of common interest.
o Networking: TEI will continue to provide in-house tax professionals at all experience levels — from rising tax executives to Chief Tax Officers — with high-quality networking opportunities, relating not only to technical tax issues but also to leadership, communications, and management issues.
o Managing: TEI will continue to refine the benefits provided to members.
Mr. O’Connor holds a B.S. degree from Boston College, a J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School, and an LL.M. from Boston University School of Law.
Also installed at the Annual Meeting of Members were David M. Penney of the Toronto Chapter as Senior Vice President, Carita R. Twinem of the Wisconsin Chapter as Secretary, and Terilea J. Wielenga of the Orange County Chapter as Treasurer. Nine Regional Vice Presidents and new Chapter Representatives were also installed. At the Board of Directors meeting immediately following the annual meeting, the chairs of the TEI’s steering committees were appointed.