Paul Boyle is stepping down as head of the Financial Reporting Council. After four years of rubbing many people in the profession up the wrong way he is moving on to as yet unspecified pastures new.

I've been on the receiving end of a handful of late night tirades myself but it was Big Four partners in particular who took exception to many of his pronouncements during his review of competition and choice in the audit market. 

I didn't always agree with him but he did show a willingness to battle the status quo and, in audit, challenge what many had come accept as unalterable market forces.

And annoying - sorry challenging the conventional, collective widsom of - the upper echelons of the Big Four from time to time is no bad thing.