Nick Ridley has taken up the role of president of the British Council for Offices following the group’s AGM today.
The Colliers executive director was appointed to the position for 2008-09, following his tenure as senior vice president and chair of this year’s BCO conference in Brussels.
Michael Hussey, managing director of London portfolio and executive director for Land Securities, who has been appointed senior vice president, will chair the BCO Conference in Edinburgh next year.
Gerald Kaye, development director of Helical Bar, becomes junior vice president and James Wates, director of the Wates Group, remains honorary treasurer.
Ridley has had 28 years of experience in frontline office agency, primarily in central London, and currently advises developers working on large-scale international office and mixed-use developments in both established and emerging markets.
Ridley said: “I want to promote efficient performance and encourage advanced property management delivery in an era where partnering between landlord and tenant has never before had such a high imperative.
“It is only through such collaboration that energy efficiencies in buildings will flow.
“Also, I am a great advocate of making the BCO more accessible to its members. In this growing digital age, the BCO has already put on its website its research catalogue in a downloadable format.
“My vision is to ensure that the BCO Specification guide and other technical data will become available in the same way allowing members to access and use the data to assist them in their everyday jobs.
Richard Kauntze, chief executive of the BCO, said: “In this era of globalisation, Nick’s understanding of the UK and international markets is exactly what the BCO needs to tackle the challenges of today’s workplace, particularly in light of global warming and sustainability.”
