Deputy State Controller Yvette Stowers has been selected to lead the State Board of Equalization after Executive Director Brenda Fleming retires at the end of June, the BOE announced March 30.
Stowers, who has represented Controller Betty Yee on the BOE and the Franchise Tax Board for many years, first must be approved by the Department of Human Resources, BOE Chair Malia Cohen announced.
Cohen said that since the hiring of Stowers will not be official until the executive branch department approves, a transition date has not been set.
Prior to becoming deputy state controller for taxation, Stowers served as a tax consultant expert for then-BOE Member Betty Yee. She previously served as an auditor, program specialist, and audit manager at the Franchise Tax Board, and as a senior tax manager at Deloitte Tax.
Stowers holds a degree in accounting from San Jose State University and a master’s degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University.
Under the 2017 reorganization of the state tax agencies, the executive director has broad authority over the BOE’s approximately 200 staff members.
Fleming, who has served as executive director for the past three years, has testified at legislative hearings, provided presentations to taxpayer groups, and established an advisory council of government and private-sector tax experts to gather feedback on the agency’s work.
The BOE’s announcement of Stowers’ selection came at the end of a five-hour closed session held by the four district-elected members and Controller Yee. No additional details were announced.