Richard Lambert to leave BWF

British Woodworking Federation (BWF) chief executive Richard Lambert is leaving the organisation to take up the top post at the National Landlords Association.

BWF president Roy Wakeman described Mr Lambert, who has headed the BWF for nine years, as a positive influence on the organisation and the industry as a whole.

“Over this time he has worked closely with the executive board to drive and implement the strategy that has seen a membership increase of 45%,” he said.

Under Mr Lambert’s leadership, the BWF has also introduced a Code of Conduct, a new accreditation scheme for timber stairs, a major industry training scheme, a wide range of business support services and the launch of the Wood Window Alliance.

Mr Lambert said the BWF has been transformed in the last nine years from a small, technically-focused subsidiary of an umbrella confederation to a modern, independent and professional trade association.

“This has enabled it to weather the recession much better than many of its contemporaries and is a fantastic building block for the future.”

The BWF is now looking for a new chief executive to lead and implement its core strategies around membership growth, business support services to members and developing the industry leaders of the future.