Latham distressed as institute founder axed

European Construction Institute (ECI) president Sir Michael Latham this week referred to what he described as the "distressing set of events" surrounding the axing of the Institute's founder and director Ivor Williams (Contract Journal 15 January).

"This has been a very distressing set of events for the ECI. I have always greatly valued my close relationship with Ivor. It is a relationship that is shared with other bodies such as the Joint Industry Board for electrical contracting, where I am chairman and he is an independent member," he said.

"However, the work of the European Construction Institute in spreading best practice is very important.

"I have agreed with the new director Gareth Thomas that we must look forward and build on the Institute's achievements in the past."

Unofficially it is acknowledged that proper procedures were not observed in dealings with Williams by the Institute or Loughborough University.

Efforts are being made to reach a satisfactory agreement with him.

The ECI is said to have run into financial difficulties last year when it took over the ACTIVE productivity initiative in the process industries. These difficulties stemmed, in part at least, from the loss of Department of Trade & Industry funding and led to redundancies.

Latham is set to chair a special meeting of the major Institute players such as Fluor Daniel and Bechtel to plot the way forward.

An approach to the Major Projects Association will also look at areas of co-operation.