BAYAR CHAKARTO has been elected as the new President of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants' (ACCA) North West Kent Members Network for 2004-2005.

Bayar qualified with ACCA in 1993, becoming a Fellow in 1998 and has since been an active member of the North West Kent Network.

He started his own accountancy practice in 1996 called Bayar Associated Limited, based in Lewisham and now employs five staff. A significant proportion of his clients work within the construction industry.

As President, Bayar will continue to develop and promote the image of ACCA throughout the region. The Network has already developed links with other professional bodies and hosts regular business lectures and social events where local professionals are invited along with ACCA members.

Commenting on his appointment, Bayar said: "I look forward to my role in assisting the members of ACCA.

"I have a number of aims this year. I hope to encourage more newly-qualified members to attend Members Network meetings and events, and to address some of the local business concerns.

“I also hope to create greater participation from younger members of the Network and to promote ACCA to school leavers and university graduates."