Ian Moore OBE steps down as CEO of Fire Industry Association

The Board of Directors at the FIA stands firmly behind Moore’s decision and have moved to reassure the Trade Association’s membership that, in the interim, the team at headquarters – under the guidance of chair Martin Watson and chief operating officer Andrew Ledgerton-Lynch OBE – is in “a strong position” to continue meeting their objectives and needs.

Going forward, the Board members will, of course, be looking at what this decision means for the FIA from a structural perspective. The Board and the leadership team will be working on this over the coming months.

Tremendous legacy

Moore joined the FIA back in 2015 with a stated remit of raising and expanding the organisation’s profile, duly positioning the Trade Association as a world-class leader when it comes to raising the bar on professionalism within and across the fire safety sector.

During his term in office, membership of the FIA has doubled, as have the number of people who’ve been trained. The FIA’s representation in the domain of British, European and international standards, and the volume of technical issues tackled, has markedly expanded, while the FIA has successfully increased its influence within central Government and other UK and European bodies.

In recent times, the fire industry’s Centre of Excellence was created in Northwich to provide dedicated membership and training facilities in what is an exemplary sustainable building.

The Trade Association’s AGM and Annual Lunch have doubled in size, the latter becoming a ‘go-to’ event in the industry’s annual calendar.

Added to this, Moore has been recognised with a number of fantastic achievement awards (among them the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2025 Fire and Security Matters Awards), culminating in him being awarded an OBE in His Majesty The King’s 2025 New Year Honours List for “outstanding services to the fire industry and public safety”.

Strong position

Martin Watson observed: “Ian leaves the FIA in a significantly stronger position than when he joined. Under his leadership, we have seen remarkable growth in membership, training and technical influence alongside the creation of our Centre of Excellence in Northwich.”

Watson added: “Ian’s contribution to both the FIA and the wider fire safety industry has been substantial, and we are grateful for his many years of dedicated service. It has been a privilege to work alongside him. On behalf of the Board, I would like to sincerely thank Ian for everything he has achieved. We wish him all the very best for the future.”

Ian Moore responded: “It has been an absolute privilege to lead such a talented and committed team over the past decade. Together, we’ve achieved extraordinary progress, shaping the FIA into a highly respected source of professional advice, training and influence across the industry. That reputation and impact will undoubtedly continue long after my departure. The organisation is in a strong position, supported by an experienced and dedicated Board, and I have genuinely valued and enjoyed working alongside them.”

On a personal note, Moore has been “deeply humbled” by the recognition received during his time at the FIA. “I have had the pleasure of meeting so many fantastic people along the way, many of whom I am proud to call friends. Once the dust has settled, I will certainly be in touch to maintain those relationships.”
In terms of what’s next, Moore looks forward to contributing to the growth of the FIA in a different capacity. For now, though, the foremost priority is to rest and prepare for the next chapter. That will include some consultancy work through Moore’s own Bulwark Consultancy.

From all of us here at Fire Safety Matters, we wish you the very best of fortune for the future, Ian. Thank you for your fantastic contributions in print, online and in the conference domain alongside your ongoing and invaluable support of the magazine.