Peter Wyman plans to leave PricewaterhouseCoopers after 41 years to become a company director.

Speaking at last week’s Accountancy Age Awards, where he picked up the Outstanding Industry Contribution award, Wyman confirmed that he is to retire from the Big Four accountancy firm in June next year. He also told Accountancy Age that he is planning to build a portfolio of directorships which he hopes to have in place by then.

The global leader of public policy at PwC is also trying to set up some consultancy work in the not-for-profit sector and hopes to split his time between the UK and abroad.

Wyman said: ‘At 59, it’s time to go, although I continue to enjoy my role at the firm hugely. I have no intention of retiring and am putting together a portfolio of directorships and not-for-profit roles in areas which interest me.’

The veteran has been a partner with the firm for more than 30 years. Wyman said he had only intended to stay for a short period of time with a ‘view to qualifying and then getting out’ but was a ‘slow developer’.

He added that: ‘My move now is about 35 years later than the original plan.’