New director appointed to spearhead

Lynda Purser, currently chief executive of the Institute of Packaging, has today been confirmed as the director of the Institute of Management Consultancy (IMC).

Lynda becomes the first person to assume the role since IMC announced its merger with the Chartered Management Institute in May 2004. In her new role, she will oversee programmes to promote consultancy best practice and she will also lead the development of IMC as the professional standards body for management consultancy.

Prior to taking up the post Lynda has had a successful career spanning the public and private sectors. She orchestrated the merging and re-branding of one of the largest Learning & Skills Councils and spent four years as chief executive of Peterborough Training & Enterprise Council. Lynda has also acted as principal consultant for KPMG, providing expertise on corporate development and change management. She is currently a non-executive director for the Gas Safety Council and for Cogent, the Sector Skills Council for the Chemical, Nuclear, Oil and Gas, Petroleum and Polymer industries. She formally held non executive director roles with Connexions and Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust.

Welcoming the appointment, Calvert Markham, president of IMC, says: We are delighted that Lynda is joining us as the Institute embarks on an exciting new chapter. Her experience, both as a consultant and in growing membership organisations will be of great value as the merged Institutes strive to develop a community of practitioners committed to excellent management performance.

Integration of IMC and the Chartered Management Institute has already begun and it is anticipated that the combined structures will be in place by January 2005. Under the terms of the merger, each Institute will retain its own brand identity, with Lynda reporting to the chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, Mary Chapman.

Mary Chapman says: As a joint entity, both Institutes will enjoy a stronger base from which to add to the debate on business ethics and performance. Lynda’s knowledge of both the corporate and educational environments will be a tremendous asset in this respect and we are confident that she will be able to work alongside our members to raise management standards and performance.

Lynda will take up the position on 27 September 2004.