It is with disappointment that the BMC Board communicates the resignation of Huw Jones from his Nominated Director position.
Huw submitted his resignation from the Board on Tuesday, indicating that this is in light of the behaviour of minority groups of BMC members who, whilst small in number, are in his view intent on undermining the good work that has been undertaken by the Board and by National Council in its role of holding the Board to account. This has occurred to such an extent that Huw feels unable to make further progress with his work on behalf of the BMC.
The Board regards these circumstances as deeply regrettable and will consider how we can collectively promote the BMC’s values across the wider organisation, in particular that of respect; also, clear guidance will be provided regarding appropriate ways of raising any concerns that members may have so that the valued contributions of volunteers are not placed at risk.
Huw was appointed through a vote at the 2019 AGM, having responded to an invitation for applications from BMC members able to demonstrate key skills and expertise in areas that were identified as priorities. With three Nominated Director positions to be filled at the time, candidates put forward to the AGM were grouped on the advice of the Nominations Committee in order to ensure that the appointments would, in combination, address the requirements of the skills matrix.
With a qualification from the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (which later became ACCA) and having fulfilled senior financial management roles, Huw was the successful candidate in the election of a Nominated Director qualified and experienced in accounting and finance.
Moving forward, the Board will consult with National Council on the reserved matter of using the provision within the BMC’s articles of association (article 19.15) for the co-option of a person to fill a Nominated Director vacancy until the role can be filled through a nomination process in accordance with article 19.7. The aim is to complete the co-option process quickly and communicate the outcome.
BMC President Lynn Robinson and BMC Board Chair Gareth Pierce commented that:
“We are very grateful to Huw for the substantial contribution that he has made to the work of the BMC over the past 18 months, at a time when we’ve made further developments in our approach to financial planning and monitoring. We are determined to build on that, including through the short and medium term steps being taken to reinforce the Board and the senior team. We are also encouraged by the way in which discussions at area meetings, as well as at National Council, are rightly treating volunteers and staff with respect, recognising that this is a prerequisite to the success of the BMC in developing its work on behalf of members and the wider sector.”
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