Senior partner Dermot Mathias is the leading candidate to take over from BDO Stoy Hayward boss Jeremy Newman next year, leading industry figures have suggested.

Newman moves from his current role as national managing partner to serve as CEO of the international network from October 2008.

‘Mathias would be my first choice, he has been around the circuit and knows the firm well. I would be very surprised if it wasn’t him as he sticks out like a sore thumb,’ said Phil Shohet of professional services consultancy Kato.

But he is far from a shoo-in for the job, BDO insiders said.

Newman came into the top job from BDO’s management executive team and had not served as senior partner. It is unclear whether Mathias would make what some would see as a sideways move from senior partner to managing partner. But Newman has given the position of managing partner a high profile with his challenge to the Big Four.

The current executive consists of the senior partner, managing partner and his team of partners: head of operations for London Tony Perkins; head of operations for the regions Carl Williams; and finance partner Mark Sherfield. All three could also be candidates for the job.

Newman’s replacement will have big boots to fill. Last year’s Accountancy Age Personality of the Year has seen the firm increase income to £317m over the past six years.