The Hundred Group of Finance Directors is set to meet this Monday to anoint its new chairman, BG Group FD Ashley Almanza.

Almanza takes the helm at the influential group as it carries out its biennial transfer at the top.

Philip Broadley has stepped down after two years in which the group’s most controversial intervention concerned its encouragement of joint audit proposals.

Senior figures said Almanza would have to offer sensible guidance on issues like the credit crunch and standards. Peter Wyman of PwC said: ‘There’s a risk that there is fallout from the credit crunch... at least some commentators [have suggested] lets abolish fair value, a nonsensical view.’