RICS chief exec prepares to step down
The chief executive of RICS is expected to stand down from the post as the organisation reveals the findings of a review into a governance scandal that has surrounded it for months.
Sean Tompkins is yet to officially resign but has had “extensive” conversations within the business to agree the terms of his departure, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The issue is likely to be among the leading topics at a press conference on Thursday, at which the organisation will reveal the findings of an independent review conducted by Alison Levitt QC into the dismissal of four non-executive directors in 2019. The non-execs had voiced concerns over the internal handling of a critical report from BDO.
The chief executive of RICS is expected to stand down from the post as the organisation reveals the findings of a review into a governance scandal that has surrounded it for months.
Sean Tompkins is yet to officially resign but has had “extensive” conversations within the business to agree the terms of his departure, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The issue is likely to be among the leading topics at a press conference on Thursday, at which the organisation will reveal the findings of an independent review conducted by Alison Levitt QC into the dismissal of four non-executive directors in 2019. The non-execs had voiced concerns over the internal handling of a critical report from BDO.
Levitt passed RICS some 400 pages of her findings a month ago, since which time the organisation has been under pressure to make the document public.
In an interview with EG in March, Tompkins declined to apologise to RICS members for the growing controversy until the findings of the review were known. He said that resigning had “never” crossed his mind, adding: “At the end of the day, your role as the CEO is to work through the challenges that are faced. If the governing body, [which] is my employer, felt differently then they would let me know, I’m sure. Equally, as the CEO, you get to a point when you know the [time is right] for change. But right here, right now, I’ve got to work through these challenges.”
An RICS spokesman said: “The governing council of RICS will be publishing the independent review conducted by Alison Levitt QC at noon on Thursday. We will be holding a press conference at that time, to be addressed by Nick Maclean, chair of the governing council’s steering committee for the review, and Alison Levitt QC, which can also be viewed by members and RICS employees. We will not be commenting further until then.”
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