The World Workplace Europe event held earlier this week in Glasgow saw new leaders announced for the three principle professional organisations in FM, co-organisers of the conference.

Lionel Prodgers steps down as Chairman of the British Institute of Facilities Management to be succeeded by Ian Fielder.

Ian Fielder

Fielder, currently Sales & Marketing Director with Johnson Controls, began his career in facilities management when he joined Portsmouth Hospitals Estates Department straight from school.

During 13-years with the NHS he was involved with all aspects of FM from maintenance and project management through to major capital work. In 1985 Fielder joined IBM as a regional surveyor, managing environmental programmes. Six years later IBM retained him as the ‘intelligent client’ when most of his colleagues left to form Procord, eventually sold to
Johnson Controls. Fielder himself joined Procord as Commercial Business Development Manager, and later Group Account Manager responsible for the London portfolio. He returned to business development in 1998 as Sales and Marketing Director.

Fielder’s association with the BIFM began in the early nineties as founder member, events chairman and later deputy chairman of the AFM South Region. "The BIFM has grown in stature and is now recognised as the UK’s leading FM organisation," he said, "I believe we need to grow the BIFM profile to become fully recognised as providing facilities within a business environment. As incoming chairman I hope, having worked as both client and supplier within the industry, I bring a different perspective. However, my first important role will be listening to members to understand their needs."

Little known fact: In his younger days Fielder was an enthusiastic long distance swimmer and once swam the Solent, Ryde to Southsea, in 115 minutes.

EuroFM and IFMA

Lionel Prodgers moves to become Chairman of the networking organisation EuroFM, replacing Keith Alexander. Later this year IFMA will have its first Chair from outside the US as Gert Freling of the Netherlands, currently first vice-Chair takes over from Vance Hilbers. Freling has set up a new business centre venture at Schipol Airport, where until recently he was facility manager.