Rogers and Forum members to discuss chairman post

Stanhope's operations director Peter Rogers is to spend next week meeting Strategic Forum members to curry their favour for the post of chairman.

In what will be an informal chat at Rogers' office by a cross section of the Forum's membership, the chairman-to-be is expected to be quizzed over what he can bring to the Forum, if appointed, and what he thinks of progress so far.

Rogers said: "I think they will find someone who has great experience of the industry and is not looking to re-invent the wheel. However, I can't stand bureaucracy and people saying 'it can't be done'. I think some Forum members are concerned that I am going to pull up the foundations already in place. That is not the case."

Rogers already has the blessing of construction minister Brian Wilson following a Construction Umbrella Body meeting last month and has strong links to former chairman Sir John Egan through their work together with A-Site.

However, the decision has to be unanimous across the Forum for Rogers to be given the nod. If appointed, Rogers said that he would be taking 'Accelerating Change' by the horns and concentrate on a two or three drivers when the new Forum convenes on 12 September.

He also expects splinter groups to take forward the main areas of the document within the subgroup categories.