New Chief Executive of IEMA Announced

The IEMA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that a new Chief Executive of IEMA has been appointed.

Following the retirement of Russell Foster earlier this year, Jan Chmiel will take up the role of Chief Executive of IEMA during November 2009.

Jan has a strong background specialising in building, managing and leading businesses throughout the world in the energy and sustainability sectors. He has held a number of senior roles in large international organisations including Shell, the BG Group and the Energy Saving Trust.

As a Director in previous roles, Jan has been responsible for developing and implementing strategies for sustainable energy. Building on his MBA in International Development and Change Management, he also brings experience of working with CEOs in the automotive, retail and the waste sectors.

Welcoming Jan's appointment, IEMA Board Chair Ian Housley said "Jan has been appointed to the role of Chief Executive of IEMA due to his vast experience, invaluable leadership qualities and absolute ability to lead and deliver IEMA's vision for the coming five years.""

Commenting on his new position, Jan said "I am delighted to take up this role. We have three main objectives to achieve by 2014, as outlined in our Vision, but when I take up the role of Chief Executive I really want to make an individual connection to the IEMA membership. By this time next year, I would really like for each and every IEMA member to feel that this Institute is relevant, current and making a real difference to their own career and the environmental profession as a whole."

Chair of the IEMA Council Allen Norris is eager to start working with Jan, as he says "On behalf of the Council, I warmly welcome Jan to his new role and we all look forward to working closely with him to enhance and develop our Institute in the exciting and challenging times in which we live."

Jan will be working with Martin Baxter, who becomes Executive Director responsible for policy, as part of a strengthened leadership team.

IEMA members will have the opportunity to meet Jan at future IEMA events and we will include a feature on Jan and his background in a future editions of 'the environmentalist'.