UK: Rod Pettigrew has been announced as the new chief executive of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) with immediate effect. He succeeds Blane Judd who stepped down from the role at the end of June.
Rod joined B&ES, then known as the HVCA, in 1994, when he was appointed head of the association's commercial and legal department. He was appointed deputy chief executive in 2008 and was widely expected to take over from Robert Higgs when he retired in 2011.

B&ES president Bruce Bisset said he was delighted at the appointment and commented that having served as deputy chief executive of the association since 2008, Rod had 'an unrivalled understanding of the association and a deep appreciation of the needs of its membership'.

Commenting on his appointment, Rod Pettigrew said: 'The continuing recession, technological advances, radical changes in working practices and the imperatives of the low-carbon agenda mean that the industry must be prepared to adapt to the developing requirements of the marketplace.'

'It is essential therefore, that B&ES members are able to rely on us for the expert advice, guidance and practice support they will require in the challenging days ahead.

'I am determined that they will not be disappointed,' he concluded.

Rod is a member of the council of the CBI and of the policy board of the United Kingdom Contractors' Group, and is general secretary (UK) of GCI-UICP, the European umbrella body for the HVACR and plumbing industries.