Is it compulsory for Imam of a masjid/mosque to have a beard?

Recently an acquaintance of mine was refused for being the imam of a mosque, just on the ground that he does'nt had a beard. He is a admirable and pious man with a sound knowledge of Quran. He is also a Qaari/hafiz. So is it necessary or compulsory for a Imam to have a beard according to Fiqh.