Finance and accounting operations
10 internal audit experts
These ten audit leaders have headed internal audit functions inside operating companies, with titles that include director of internal audit, head of internal audit and chief audit executive. A reader can learn how in-house internal audit functions are built and led.
Professionals to explore
01—10Brad Nesmith, CPA, CFE
LinkedInExperience: Chief Audit and Compliance Executive · UPS
Chief Audit and Compliance Executive at UPS since 2023, and former Vice President Internal Audit, Compliance and Ethics at UPS (2022–2023). At The Home Depot, this person was Senior Director Internal Audit, Compliance & Ethics (2016–2022) and Director of Internal Audit Leadership Development Program (2012–2022).
Gissela Smith
LinkedInExperience: Director of Internal Audit, Asset Protection & ERM · Wawa, Inc.
Director of Internal Audit, Asset Protection & ERM at Wawa, Inc. since 2023. At Under Armour, the profile lists Senior Manager Internal Audit (2014–2019), Director of Internal Audit (2019–2021), Chief Audit Executive (2019–2023) and Senior Director, Internal Audit & Chief Audit Executive (2021–2023).
Joyce Vassiliou
LinkedInExperience: Group Head of Internal Audit · Ferguson
Group Head of Internal Audit at Ferguson since 2017. Former Head of Internal Audit (2007–2015) and Corporate Audit Manager (2004–2007) at Coca-Cola HBC, and Vice President Governance at The Institute of Internal Auditors (2016–2017). The profile describes building and leading internal audit functions for publicly listed companies.
Justin Milne (MBA, CIA, PMP)
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Global Head of Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management (Chief Audit Executive) · First Advantage
Vice President, Global Head of Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management (Chief Audit Executive) at First Advantage since 2024, and former holder of the same title at Sterling (2021–2024). Former Sr. Director, Internal Audit (Chief Audit Executive) at Tenable (2018–2021). The profile describes First Advantage as a public background screening, identity and verification solutions company.
Karen Begelfer, CPA, CIA, CRMA
LinkedInExperience: SVP Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management · CVS Health
SVP Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management at CVS Health since 2024. Former Senior Vice President, Chief Audit Executive and Enterprise Risk Management at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (2021–2024), Senior Vice President Finance Risk and Assurance at CBRE (2020–2021) and Vice President, Chief Audit Executive at Sprint (2013–2020).
Laurie A. Hanover, CIA
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Internal Audit and Chief Audit Executive · Sunrun
Vice President, Internal Audit and Chief Audit Executive at Sunrun since 2018. Former Head of Internal Audit and Chief Audit Executive at Twitter (2014–2017) and Vice President, Internal Audit and Chief Audit Executive at ServiceSource (2014). The profile also lists President - San Francisco Chapter Institute of Internal Auditors at The Institute of Internal Auditors (2023–2025).
Matt Meisel, CPA, CISA, CIA
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Global Head of Internal Audit & SOX · Avalara
Vice President, Global Head of Internal Audit & SOX at Avalara since 2026. At Datadog, this person was Director, Global Head of Internal Audit & SOX (Chief Audit Executive) from 2021 to 2024 and Senior Director, Global Head of Internal Audit & SOX (Chief Audit Executive) from 2024 to 2026. Former VP Internal Audit at Moody's Corporation (2017–2018).
Nancy Luquette
LinkedInExperience: SVP, Chief Audit Executive · Nasdaq
SVP, Chief Audit Executive at Nasdaq since 2024. At S&P Global, this person was Chief Risk & Audit Executive (2013–2020), EVP, Chief Risk Officer (2020–2022) and EVP, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer (2022–2023). Former VP & General Auditor at Avaya (2007–2013).
Nelsy Perez de Addicks
LinkedInExperience: Director of Internal Audit · On
Director of Internal Audit at On since 2023. Former VP Head Internal Audit at Swissport International Ltd at Swissport (2018–2023), a role the profile describes as leading the Internal Audit function for the group and building an Internal Audit team to support its continuous growth. Former Group Internal Audit Manager at VARO Energy (2016–2018).
Steve Schmidbauer, MBA, CIA
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Internal Audit (Chief Audit Executive) · Generac
Senior Director of Internal Audit (Chief Audit Executive) at Generac since 2018, where the profile says this person leads all global internal audit activities, including risk assessment and audit plan development, audit engagement planning and scoping, and reporting on the adequacy of internal controls. At Fiserv, this person was Director, Financial & Operations Audit (2010–2016) and Director, Financial Controls & Compliance (2016–2018).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's company setting to yours, since internal audit at a large public company with SOX obligations differs from building a first audit function at a younger or newly listed business. Also consider whether your question is mainly about audit planning, controls testing or audit committee reporting, and pick someone whose roles centered on that work.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you build a risk-based annual audit plan, and how often do you revise it during the year?
- 02How should internal audit split its time between SOX testing and operational or technology audits?
- 03What does a useful internal audit report to the audit committee look like, and what do members ask for most?
Reaching internal audit experts
How can I contact one of these internal audit experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including UPS; Wawa, Inc. and Ferguson, based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach internal audit experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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