Vice presidential candidates 'need better screening'

News Article - 05 October 2006
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The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has decided that candidates for vice presidential positions should be vetted more thoroughly before being appointed.

Following the incident this summer in which Graham Durgan was not elected president after claims of a conflict of interest, the organisation's chief executive, Eric Anstee, has presented the ICAEW council with a paper which states that it cannot afford to find itself in such a situation again.

The paper states that the ICAEW now needs to "consider asking the nominating committee to undertake a more rigorous examination of the credentials of candidates", according to Accountancy magazine.

Vice presidential candidates were previously chosen by the President's Advisory Committee (PAC), which is made up of past ICAEW presidents, before the introduction of open elections.

The report states: "The PAC would rigorously examine all aspects of candidates' professional and private lives and recommend one name to council.

"To my knowledge, at least one prominent member of council fell foul of this process as a result of a professional matter which made his election unacceptable", Accountancy magazine reports.

Mr Anstee added that while the procedure was seen as a safe approach, he would not recommend returning to it.

Graham Durgan was forced to leave his position following revelations that his company EWI had gained recommended supplier status from the institute.

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