The British Board of Agrément has announced Andrew Kitchingman as its new Chairman.

Mr Kitchingman, a chartered accountant and corporate financier who spent more than 25 years in the City of London, joins the BBA at an exciting and challenging time, with a number of initiatives and projects underway.

He said: “I feel very excited and quite passionate about this new challenge. The BBA has an excellent reputation and a long history of delivering a very important service to the construction industry. I’ve hit the ground running and been very impressed with the quality of the BBA’s senior management team.”

Mr Kitchingman, who lives in North Yorkshire, already holds a number of non-executive director positions across a range of businesses including social housing provider Incommunities Group in West Yorkshire, MPac Group and the Andrews Sykes Group. “I really enjoy supporting executive teams and shareholders to achieve the ambitions they set for their businesses,” he said. “My role at the BBA will see me leading the debate on strategy, shaping the way forward and ensuring that executive management deliver on the agreed actions.”

He also carries out pro-bono work and is driven by a ‘strong and sustainable desire’ to put back into society, being a founding director and trustee of Ripon Cathedral Music Trust, chair of Leeds Festival Chorus and Canon Treasurer of Ripon Cathedral where he holds responsibility for cathedral finances.

BBA Chief Executive Claire Curtis-Thomas said of Mr Kitchingman’s appointment: “As the BBA embarks upon an exciting programme of product and service development, we are delighted that Andrew has joined us to lead this important strategic initiative. Andrew has a fantastic collection of capabilities and experience which are well suited to our needs. Crucially he exemplifies our values and possesses integrity and courage in equal measure, both attributes fundamental elements of the BBA DNA.”

The BBA is currently implementing a number of business development projects including digitalisation of the organisation to improve customer service and grow the operation. Mr Kitchingman also intends to review governance, identify new areas for growth and boost margins. “We will be looking at growing the revenue by offering more services and developing new specialist areas,” he said. “The BBA has so many skilled people and the key is to using them profitably. For example capturing the organisation’s intellectual property digitally will allow us to be faster and more fleet of foot and, ultimately, offer a better service to our clients.”

Mr Kitchingman steps in to the role vacated by Valerie Owen who, after her three year tenure at the helm of the BBA, is to become Master of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects (WCCA).