Surprise dismissal spoils bosses' party

Speakers to the conference include Patricia Hewitt, David Blunkett, and Ken Clarke

by Myles Neligan BBC News Online reporter at the BCC Conference

Delegates at the annual conference of the British Chambers of Commerce were in a downbeat but determined mood this week.

The event, one of the UK business community's biggest annual get-togethers, began on Monday just days after the surprise dismissal of the BCC's director-general David Lennan.

The timing inevitably, was unfortunate

Martyn Wylie, chief executive of Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce

Mr Lennan, who had been in the job for less than a year, was ousted last week after the BCC Board decided that he had failed in his appointed mission to raise the BCC's profile.

It is understood that senior figures within the BCC were also dissatisfied with efforts to promote the organisation's internet service Chambers Online.

Onward and upward

Inevitably, BCC chiefs put a positive spin on the incident, with the lobby's vice-president Isabella Moore telling the conference:

"Last week, the chambers faced a difficult decision. That decision was taken in the interests of the whole membership."

David Lennan: Edged out

She pledged that the BCC would push ahead with a modernisation programme aimed at shedding its image as the lobby group of "the three Ms - Middle-aged Male Manufacturers."

Conference delegates, gathered in small groups to dissect the implications of Mr Lennan's dismissal over club sandwiches and glasses of white wine, were less gung-ho.

Time for change

Many rued the timing of the move, which they said had raised questions over the BCC's internal cohesion just as the organisation was gearing up for its most high-profile bash of the year.

But none seriously questioned the BCC board's decision to ditch its director-general.

We are trying to make the move into the 21st century

Malik Thahid
BCC spokesman

"The timing, inevitably, was unfortunate" Martyn Wylie, chief executive of Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, told BBC News Online.

"But there were issues about our profile that had to be addressed. Action had to be taken."

Robin Dickens, chairman of Portsmouth chamber of commerce, agreed that the BCC's sense of timing was "pretty poor".

But he added: "Arguably, it could have been more embarrassing if it had happened after the conference."

Small business executives manning stands at the conference's exhibition hall also seemed unperturbed, explaining that they are more directly affected by the activities of their local chambers.

Reform challenge

The BCC is expected to appoint a replacement for Mr Lennan in September or October, but may put an acting director general in place before then.

The organisation is mid-way through a strategic overhaul aimed at boosting its influence on policy and growing its membership.

"We are trying to make the move into the 21st century, " BCC spokesman Malik Thahid said. "We aim to become the authoritative voice of business."

The near-unanimous support among BCC members for Mr Lennan's dismissal reflects their resolve to push through the makeover.

It also sends out a clear warning to his successor:

Deliver, or you may find yourself out of a job before next year's conference rolls round.