Martin Grant resigns as chairman of the BII

The BII national council was notified of Grant’s decision yesterday (Wednesday 16 May), and is now working up a shortlist of candidates to replace him.

Chief executive Peter Thomas is expecting that three or four members of the national council will “throw their hat in the ring” for the chairmanship. The new chairman will be appointed by the national council and, it is hoped, formally approved by members at the next AGM.

Thomas admitted that the organisation is at a watershed moment in its history and now faces a dilemma about whether to appoint a chairman with a licensee or a pubco background. “The chairman needs to have credibility among licensees, but also experience of running a big organisation,” he told the PMA.

Thomas insisted Grant’s departure was not a consequence of recent revelations about the BII’s financial problems, its ill-fated Chinese partnership, or the well-publicised furore surrounding Diageo and Brewdog at its Scottish operator awards last week, but that Grant had mooted the idea of leaving after the organisation’s recent AGM as far back as September.

Grant served for nearly five years in the role of chairman, and was treasurer before that. “Martin has given the BII more than 10 years of solid service,” said Thomas. “He demonstrated excellent financial and change management, and I don’t think he has got the credit he deserves for what he has achieved. Some of his decisions haven’t been popular, but he’s not been concerned about his popularity – rather making the right decisions for the BII.”

Some BII members expressed surprise and disappointment that Grant left the organisation’s annual lunch immediately after his welcome speech, though Thomas played down his exit from the Grosvenor House, saying he had another event to attend.