SSAIB chief executive Alex Carmichael announces retirement

Carmichael has led the SSAIB since 2015, when he took over the reins as CEO from Geoff Tate. Across the past eight years, he has expanded the SSAIB’s scope of UKAS-accredited activities, built up the SSAIB’s administration expertise and extended the number – and competence – of the organisation’s dedicated audit team members. As a direct result of those diligent efforts, the SSAIB now has a client base in excess of 2,000 companies.

Prior to joining the SSAIB, Carmichael served as director of technical services at the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), whom he had worked for across a 16-year period. His career also included over 24 years’ experience in the British Army in various electronic/technical/engineering roles within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

During his time with the SSAIB, and previously with the BSIA, Carmichael sat on a number of British, European and international standards committees and, more recently, chaired the Standards Committee for the UK’s Surveillance Camera Commissioner.

Meeting the challenges

Commenting on his decision to retire, Carmichael informed Fire Safety Matters: “As I step down and prepare for my next adventure in retirement, I reflect on the fact that, in my eight years as chief executive of the SSAIB, I’ve seen this remarkable industry meet many challenges and overcome them.”

He continued: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the SSAIB’s members of staff for their support, and particularly for their ‘can-do’ attitude, their knowledge and the proficient manner in which they’ve carried out their work, which underpins the continuing growth and strength of the SSAIB.”

Carmichael added: “I can leave the CEO’s chair behind knowing that the organisation I’ve led has solid financial foundations in place, a first-class workforce and a strong and capable management team. I thank all of the SSAIB’s Board members for their help over the years, chair Geoff Tate for all of his sage advice and all my industry colleagues over the past 24 years for their help and support. It has been a great privilege and pleasure to lead such a fantastic organisation as the SSAIB and to be part of what is a wonderful and ever-evolving industry.”

Day-to-day operations

In tandem, the Whitley Bay-based inspectorate has announced that Paul Phillips, who was recently appointed general manager for the organisation, will be responsible for the day-to-day SSAIB operations subsequent to Carmichael’s departure.

*Further information is available online at www.ssaib.org