ICAEW launches Financial Talent Executive Network (F-TEN)

Are your future business leaders ready for the boardroom challenge? Will they take on that challenge within your organisation?

The ICAEW is launching its first peer to peer leadership network, the Financial Talent Executive Network (F-TEN). F-TEN is aimed at the next generation of finance leaders in business and practice helping employers to retain its best talent and to prepare them for the challenges faced at board-level.

Research carried out by McKinsey called “Starting up as CFO” in March 2008, shows a significant gap in expectation between the chief executive and a new arrival on the board. F-TEN aims to close this gap by exposing the future c-suite talent to board-room issues and encourage them to explore these challenges in a peer environment outside their immediate organisation.

F-TEN which is part of the new ICAEW Leadership Zone, will help potential future leaders transition from finance specialists to business leaders by bringing together high calibre professionals from across the FTSE 250, unlisted equivalent companies and top10 practices. They will participate in a programme based on a series of linked round-tables, workshops, peer learning groups and mentoring with senior non-executive directors from a FTSE company.

The 2008 ICAEW career benchmarking survey with Robert Half International shows that 30% of employers are not meeting the expectation of their employees. Over half surveyed do not have clear career objectives and professional development plans and 33% plan to move within the next 12-24 months. Destabilising facts for employers.

Sharron Gunn, Director Member Services, said: “Chartered accountants who have ambitions to rise to the top of their organisations, are hungry for support in developing them as leaders. In an environment which is increasingly complex and connected, leaders need to devise business strategies that are able to incorporate uncertainties, inspire and motivate staff, in addition to being able to influence and shape agendas inside and outside their organisation.

“F-TEN aims to close the expectation gap by exposing any future leaders to boardroom issues and encourage them to explore these challenges in a peer environment outside their immediate organisation. Peer to peer executive networks are growing in popularity and are crucial for innovation or dissipating risks. For future business leaders, a personal network of trusted peers is crucial for success.”

Each quarter will focusing on a different theme. In 2009 the following themes will be explored:

• Strategy and the global business environment
• Innovation and growth
• Leadership and change
• Corporate governance

For more information on FTEN contact Astrid Kirchner, Development Manager – Executive Networks at astrid.kirchner@icaew.com. For more detailed information visit our website www.icaew.com/f-ten.

Media enquiries:

Contact Howard Rhoades, ICAEW press office, on Tel: +44 (0) 20 7920 8616 or email howard.rhoades@icaew.com