The bodythat governs the International Accounting Standards Board yesterday namedformer Dutch Finance Minister, Gerrit Zalm, concluding a search.
TheInternational Accounting Standards Committee Foundation, which both appoints members ofthe standards agency and raises money for its operations, has come underconsiderable pressure in Europe from some politicians who think the boardshould be more accountable to governments, and should pay more attention totheir opinions in setting accounting standards.
Internationalaccounting standards are gaining acceptance in many countries in the world,although in some cases governments have ordered exceptions; the U.S. isconsidering accepting them beginning with reports filed in early 2009.
Also inLondon yesterday: the Financial Reporting Council, the U.K.’s independent regulator responsible for promotingconfidence in corporate reporting and governance, yesterday announced a slateof non-executive directors to its board, effective November 1.
Joiningthe board, chaired by Christopher Hogg, are: Eric Anstee, chief executive of the Institute of CharteredAccountants in England and Wales; Peter Chambers, CEO of Legal & GeneralInvestment Management; Rudy Markham, CFO of Unilever; Michael Rake, pastchairman of KPMG International and chairman of BT; Steve Robson, a formersecretary at HM Treasury; John Sunderland, chairman, Cadbury Schweppes; andLindsay Tomlinson, vice chairman, Barclays Global Investors.