Constructing Excellence is attempting to double its membership under a new chief executive, Bob White, chairman of Mace.

White takes over from outgoing chief executive Dennis Lenard. The change reflects a new direction for the government-backed organisation, which has merged with Be to become Construction Excellence in the Built Environment.

Don Ward, chief operating officer of Constructing Excellence, said: “We would like to grow from 200 members to 400 within a year or so.” He said the organisation would launch a campaign in September to target “big-spending repeat clients”, such as local authorities, with the aim of bringing the client into Constructing Excellence along with the QS, project management and contracting firms it uses regularly.

Companies pay £7,000 a year for membership, although smaller businesses can join for half this fee.

Ward said Lenard’s departure was spurred by the changes at the organisation: “Since we merged with Be, our focus is on being a membership organisation rather than a government-backed best practice-orientated body. Lenard didn’t particularly want to run a membership organisation and he also wanted to get back to working in the industry.”

Bob White will be chief executive of Constructing Excellence for at least a year. He has taken a sabbatical from Mace.

Lenard is looking at opportunities in both the UK and Australia.

Source

QS News