Andersen names its new chief

EMBATTLED accountancy group Andersen has named Aldo Cardoso, head of its French operations, as its interim global chief executive.

Cardoso, a 20-year Andersen veteran, replaces Joseph Beradino who resigned last week. Cardoso will retain his current position as chairman of Andersen's Worldwide Board of Partners. The 46-year-old Frenchman now faces the task of managing a group brought to the edge of collapse by its involvement in the Enron scandal.

He will first oversee the likely splintering of the 89-year-old group after a proposed rescue deal with rival KPMG involving Andersen's non-US operations collapsed this week. KPMG remains favourite to take on Andersen's British operation and its 7000 staff.

Before taking over Andersen's French operation in 1998, Cardoso managed the firm's audit practice in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.