ANTON Colella is leaving the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland after more than 10 years at the helm, to take up another senior post.

Mr Colella, a former head of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, is becoming global chief executive of London-based international accountancy network Moore Stephens International.

ICAS president Sir Brian Souter, chairman of bus and rail group Stagecoach, said: “Over the past decade, Anton has been the architect of a transformed ICAS, and we want to thank him for his immense contribution. We believe he will continue to have a valuable role as a leader in the accountancy profession.”

Sir Brian added that the professional body would “commence a recruitment process to find a successor who can lead ICAS forward and continue to position us as one of the world’s most influential business networks”.

Mr Colella, who will remain in post while the recruitment process progresses, said: “It is with a heavy heart that I leave ICAS after ten years. The opportunity to become global CEO at Moore Stephens International was impossible to resist.”

Richard Moore, chairman of Moore Stephens, described Mr Colella as a “motivational leader”, who was “highly respected by major firms, global professional bodies, regulators and governments”.