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The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) has announced a new board leadership structure, signalling an important next chapter in the association’s evolution as it responds to global growth, regulatory complexity, and rapid technological change across the background screening industry.
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, PBSA represents the global background screening community and plays a central role in promoting ethical, compliant, and accurate screening practices worldwide. The latest leadership appointments reflect a deliberate move toward greater governance maturity and a stronger international footprint.
New Chair Appointed Following Transformative Tenure
Katie Hartley of Accurate has been appointed Chair of the PBSA Board, succeeding Tim Gordon of InfoMart. Gordon will step down from the Chair role after a period of significant organisational change but will remain on the board for a further year to support continuity.
During his tenure, Gordon oversaw a major shift in how PBSA operates, including the transition to a fully staffed association model and a more proactive stance in addressing emerging industry risks and regulatory challenges.
“We experienced significant change in how PBSA approached both industry risk and organisational structure,” Gordon said. “Moving to a dedicated global staff structure has been a defining step forward. It has allowed PBSA to focus consistently on advocacy, education and member support around the world. I’m incredibly proud of the foundation we’ve built and confident in the Association’s future under Katie’s leadership.”
Navigating Regulation, Technology, and Trust
Hartley takes on the Chair role at a pivotal moment for background screening providers. Organisations are facing increasing scrutiny around data privacy, identity verification, and compliance, alongside the growing influence of artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
“I’m incredibly honoured and humbled to be trusted with this role by my peers,” Hartley said. “PBSA has entered a new phase of maturity – with dedicated staff, a truly global framework and expanding councils. Now is the time to bring clarity to what background screening does, why it matters and how it benefits employers, candidates and consumers alike.”
Education, industry practices, and thought leadership will be central to PBSA’s strategy as it continues to scale globally. Hartley also pointed to emerging trends that are shaping the sector, including fraud detection, identity verification technologies, artificial intelligence, and evolving privacy legislation across jurisdictions.
“The regulatory landscape is becoming more complex every year,” she added. “Our role as an association is to ensure members are supported with education, government relations and expertise, so they can operate responsibly and confidently in every market.”
Strengthening Regional Leadership
As part of the wider leadership announcements, PBSA confirmed that Will Hoggarth of chexperts has been appointed Chair of the Europe and Africa Council. The move reinforces PBSA’s commitment to strengthening its advocacy and member support across Europe and Africa as demand for consistent, compliant screening practices continues to grow.
“Strong regional leadership is essential as background screening continues to expand globally,” said Melissa Sorenson, Executive Director of PBSA. “With Katie stepping into the role of Chair, Tim’s legacy of organisational transformation, and Will leading our Europe and Africa Council, PBSA is exceptionally well positioned to support members through regulatory change, technological advancement and growing public expectations around trust and transparency.”
A Growing Global Association
Founded in 2003, PBSA now represents more than 850 member companies worldwide. The association provides accreditation, education, advocacy, and resources designed to promote excellence in background screening across employment and tenancy markets.
As employers place greater emphasis on trust, transparency, and compliance in hiring and workforce decisions, PBSA’s renewed leadership structure underscores its ambition to remain the leading global authority for the background screening profession.
For more information about PBSA and its leadership, visit www.thepbsa.org
