People and Business: Back to roots

ANDREW COLQUHOUN has completed the transition from bean counter to bean grower. Mr Colquhoun's seven-year reign as chief of the Institute of Chartered Accountants came to an unhappy end in 1997, but he has re- emerged as director-general of the Royal Horticultural Society.

As Accountancy Age says this week, Mr Colquhoun has found the true meaning of gardening leave. He trousered a payoff of a quarter of a million pounds when he left the ICA's Moorgate Place HQ in the City two years ago, but even that must be running low by now.

The new job will give Mr Colquhoun - once bearded, now clean-shaven - a chance to get back to his roots. He graduated in agricultural sciences and his PhD was a study of plant ageing.