David Thomlinson has replaced Lis Astall as the UK managing director of management consulting giant Accenture.

Astall will lead Accenture's government division in Europe.

He will take charge of Accenture's second-biggest market behind the US, accounting for £1.4bn of revenues and employing 11,500 people.

Thomlinson immediate challenge will be managing its role in the masive project to upgrade the NHS IT systems.

Accenture was the former consulting arm of accounting firm Andersen, but seperated from the firm before it collapsed in the wake of the Enron scandal.

As well as public-sector clients, the consultancy works for 80% of FTSE 100 companies, which provide the bulk of revenues.