Kauntze to stand down as BCO chief executive

Richard Kauntze is stepping down as chief executive of the British Council for Offices next summer after more than 25 years in the role. Since taking up the position in 1999, Kauntze has overseen an increase in membership from 585 to more than 4,000, with the organisation relocating headquarters from Reading to London and expanding its presence across the regions. The BCO has also launched the NextGen programme aimed at attracting younger members, with under-35s now accounting for a quarter of the organisation’s membership. Before stepping down, Kauntze is planning to launch two new committees covering the London regional and life science sectors. Kauntze said: “It will be bittersweet to say farewell to the BCO next summer. It has been an honour to hold the role of chief executive with the organisation for what will be 25 years this November. “I will always have great fondness of the BCO and I am excited to see how it will continue to grow and progress with the excellent presidential team. “Meanwhile, I am delighted to be launching the London Regional Committee and the Life Sciences Committee in this final year, which I believe will offer new springboards for discussion on progressive topics in the sector.” The BCO presidential team will announce his successor in due course. Earlier today the BCO announced that HERE co-founder Peter Crowther had been elected as the organisation’s new president, succeeding Cushman & Wakefield’s Despina Katsikakis. Photo © BCO