Peter Armstrong, Chairman of BASA's governing council announced today that Ian Brown, BASA's Secretary General since 1990 is to retire at the end of April 2000. Paying tribute to Ian's work over the past ten years he said:

"Ian has been a major asset to BASA in some difficult times. He has managed the association's affairs in a highly efficient way and has ensured that we have remained a major part of the fire protection community."

The new Secretary General is to be Stewart Kidd, well known to many in the industry as a former Director of the Fire Protection Association. Mr Armstrong commented:

"We are delighted that Stewart has accepted the Association's invitation to take on this role and are sure that he is the right person to ensure that the interests of the sprinkler industry are actively promoted. We also believe that Stewart's expereince, background and credentials will ensure that BASA continues to be the voice of the sprinkler industry."

Stewart, who left the FPA in 1997 and has since developed a flourishing loss prevention consultancy practice which he will continue to oversee on a part-time basis, said:

"I am greatly looking forward to working with BASA's members as well as other organisations such as the LPC and the National Sprinkler Forum to promote the aims of the association and in particular to ensure that the recent moves to expand the use of sprinklers for residential and life safety use build on the high standards of technical excellence and compliance with certifications procedures offered by BASA's member companies.