Just six months after visiting Croydon to discuss the future of the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) movement, the director general David Lennan has left his post at the organisation's request.
Mr Lennan visited the Croydon Chamber's Wandle Road headquarters on August 8, 2001, as part of his tour to get grass roots opinion on how to modernise the organisation, and he also attended the Business Show last year.
The BCC has provided limited information on Mr Lennan's departure, but blamed disagreements at board-room level regarding the speed and mode of restructuring the organisation.
A statement read: "Inevitably, in any organisation going through a major change programme, (ongoing over the last 18 months), there will always be disagreements about the speed and direction of progress. As a consequence, Mr Lennan was asked to leave.
"This was a collective decision that was unopposed by the board of directors of the BCC. The board, with the support of the President Anthony Goldstone, will ensure that the work of the BCC continues while it begins actively recruiting a new person to the role."
But the move is also widely thought to be a response to Mr Lennan's public criticism of the Chancellor's budget last week, at a time when the BCC is looking to position itself as one of the government's key business advisory bodies.
Croydon's chief executive Chris Hughes told the Guardian: "I am disappointed David is going. Whilst not privy to the precise reasons for his departure, David seemed to be making an impact in the short time he had been in post. He was certainly a friend and fan of Croydon Chamber and Croydon as a whole.
"I now hope that the BCC make the right decisions for its future and its role, and appoint a suitable person who will take the Chamber movement forward and fast. Doubtless I will hear more at a Chief Executives' meeting next week."
The BCC's two-day National Conference took place as usual last week and delegates used the conference to challenge the Government on its policies to ensure that businesses have the best environment to succeed.
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