Forum seeks new chair after Chamberlain snub

The Strategic Forum is desperately trying to find a replacement chairman after Adrian Chamberlain turned down the offer.

Chamberlain, formerly chief executive of Bovis Lend Lease (Europe), was due to take over from current chairman Peter Rogers, who steps down at the end of the year after three years.

However Chamberlain, who was deputy chairman of the forum, is considering a move away from construction and is no longer interested in the post after resigning from Bovis following disagreements over future strategy.

The forum will now try desperately to find someone with the same stature as Rogers to push through change in the industry.

“The news has come as a big shock to forum members as Chamberlain would have done well as chairman,” one forum insider said. “The problem is that the forum needs to find someone quickly. We need someone with clout.”

A shortlist is expected to be drawn up during a forum meeting tomorrow (Thursday), with Peter

Woolliscroft, the architect of NHS ProCure 21, thought to be a front-runner for the post.

“It would be good to get a client to head up the group for a change,” another forum source said. “Clients have a large part to play in shaping the construction industry.”