IFE announces leadership team investment to drive future growth

Steve Hamm, the IFE’s current CEO, commented: “As well as expanding our leadership capacity, these two new appointments will ensure organisational resilience and enable us to provide services to our members that reflect the evolving role of the IFE as the leading international professional body for fire safety. The appointments will also support emerging regulatory frameworks for registered fire engineers and technicians.”

Hamm continued: “Having been CEO on a part-time basis for the past five years, I will transition to a strategic fire safety advisory role following the appointment of a new full-time CEO later this year. The new CEO will provide a dedicated full-time resource for the IFE, supported by qualified professionals who form the corporate management team.”

Recruitment will be a comprehensive and carefully managed process to ensure the corporate management team is resourced appropriately for the future.

Essential support

Paul Stollard, chair of the IFE, stated: “These appointments come at a critical time and will provide essential support for the IFE’s growth, in turn enabling us to effectively navigate the increasing demands placed on the institution, particularly so since the publication of the Grenfell Tower report.”

Stollard went on to state: “The Board recognises that the current CEO has led the organisation for over five years on a part-time basis, having initially been engaged to provide oversight of a change management programme. As a qualified chartered engineer with extensive strategic leadership experience, Steve has led the IFE through an era of significant organisational development, resulting in the situation where greater capacity is needed in terms of both strategic leadership and technical expertise.”

Further, Stollard noted: “The recruitment of both roles demonstrates the IFE’s commitment to reinforcing its leadership framework and positioning the organisation for sustained growth and resilience.”

The IFE is working with a specialist executive recruitment agency to lead the appointment of a new full-time CEO. Further updates regarding this appointment, as well as the strengthening of the IFE’s technical staff resources, will be shared in due course.