Michael Leightman, Vice President for FTZ Services, brings over 34 years of experience in Big Four consultancy to Charter, primarily focused on Customs and Trade matters for the petroleum, petrochemical and chemical sectors.

Michael provides strategic advice on customs planning techniques and management compliance responsibilities, including analysis of shifting manufacturing country of origin options due to punitive tariffs through internal control assessment, design, implementation and testing, assisting US and foreign-based clients with structuring, activating and utilizing the US Foreign-Trade Zone program for their US operations, in addition to assisting clients with their US Customs and IRS regulatory compliance obligations related to customs duty liability, import fees and taxes (import and excise), including the Superfund Chemicals Excise Tax.

Michael is a licensed certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He earned his BS in Accounting from Santa Clara University. He is also a licensed US Customs Broker, and a member of the American Association of Exporters and Importers and the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones. Michael has given numerous presentations on US customs matters to industry and trade organizations across the globe.