The International Accounting Standards Board announced today that the new man in charge of International Financial Reporting Standards will be a Dutch financial markets regulator and former politician who is not an accountant.

IASB said Hans Hoogervorst would replace Sir David Tweedie as chairman when he retires at the end of June 2011.

Hoogervorst is co-chair of an advisory board that rushed to Tweedie’s defense in April 2009 when IASB came under intense pressure from European political leaders, notably the French.

His Financial Crisis Advisory Group—an IASB and FASB creation—published a letter saying the standard setter should be left alone to do its job.

Hoogervorst landed the IASB role ahead of Accounting Standards Board Chairman Ian Mackintosh, who had been widely tipped for the post. Mackintosh will become IASB vice-chair instead.

The idea is that Mackintosh will compensate for Hoogervorst’s lack of accounting experience. The New Zealander is a former chief accountant of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and has over 30 years’ experience of national and international accounting standard setting.

Tweedie said the two men had skills that were “entirely complementary.” And Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, chair of IASB’s trustees, said they would make a strong team.

“Hans is a senior and well-respected securities regulator who has a strong record defending the principles of transparency and independence. Ian is an accomplished accounting expert and international standard setter,” he said.

Hoogervorst used the IASB statement announcing his appointment to underline his commitment to IFRS. “I strongly believe that a global set of accounting standards, set for investors by an independent standard setter, is an essential component for the world’s financial markets. These will remain my priorities,” he said.

The appointment of a new chair marks the end of a nearly year-long international search process. IASB said its trustees considered more than 300 candidates from 28 countries before compiling a reduced list of 45 individuals from 20 countries.

Hoogervorst’s current job is chairing the Dutch securities and markets regulator, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. He held several jobs in the country’s government between 1998 and 2007, including finance minister.