Institute homes in on Blewitt's successor

ACCA is set to announce the identity of its new chief executive ‘within the next few weeks’.

Two ACCA insiders have been mooted as potential successors to Allen Blewitt, but they are believed to be merely two of a wide-ranging field.

Helen Brand, currently managing director for strategy and development, and Andrew Harding, the managing director for finance and operations, are both thought to have been interviewed for the position.

‘A series of interviews have taken place, and different levels of interview,’ a spokesman for ACCA said, without confirming or denying whether Brand and Harding were among those.

The remuneration committee, led by Brendan Murtagh, is now making its mind up and hopes to announce a successor shortly.

Blewitt announced in December that he would be stepping down at the end of this year, prompting the search for a new chief executive. Blewitt came from the institute’s Asia-Pacific region and, given its importance to ACCA, a successor could come from the same area.

‘Because we are global [we need] someone with an understanding of a global organisation,’ a spokesman said.

The post of chief executive was advertised in The Sunday Times earlier this year, and a decision will be made by Murtagh’s committee of council members.

When asked at the recent AGM whether or not it would ensure the new boss would be an ACCA member, Murtagh said the body would be seeking the best person for the job.