Engine of change – Philip’s new role as he heads to SRA exit


Philip: Education role at IMI

The outgoing chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has lined up his first non-executive role by joining the board of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

He is joined by Linda Ford, the former chief executive of CILEX.

They are part of what the IMI described as a “dream team” that will “secure the future of the automotive industry”.

The IMI’s goal is “to support the global automotive workforce in achieving and maintaining professional competence and continuing professional development to service, repair and maintain vehicles”.

Part of a 14-strong board, Mr Philip, who retires from the SRA later this year, will also sit on the institute’s educational and professional standards committee.

He said: “Joining the IMI offers me the opportunity to bring my previous experience in setting professional standards of competency to a totally different sector.”

The committee will be chaired by Ms Ford, who left CILEX in March after nearly a decade.

She recently became a non-executive director of the Association of Accounting Technicians as well, adding to a longstanding board role at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and being co-chair of the discipline committee at the National Association of Funeral Directors.

Ms Ford said: “It is an exciting time to be joining the IMI, when its mission is even more vital to the motor sector. I hope my diversity of thought and breadth of experience will help ensure that the IMI maintains the highest possible standards in its qualifications and routes to professional registration as it seeks to grow its community of world class automotive talent.”

They were two of six new directors announced this week. Graeme Potts, recently appointed chair of the IMI board, said: “These additional appointments, along with the other NEDs already announced, put us in a great position to lead the IMI in this ever-evolving and game-changing era for the industry.

“Together they share the same commitment to the automotive workforce that the rest of the board holds, and their wide range of backgrounds, experience and perspectives will be hugely beneficial to the work of the IMI and the wider industry, increasing diversity and closing skills gaps to futureproof the sector.”

Mr Potts is chief executive of the Eden Motor Group.

Sarah Rapson, the executive director of supervision at the Financial Reporting Council, was recently named as Mr Philip’s replacement at the SRA.




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