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Read a message from our new Director, Ian Peters.
Dear All,
As I begin my first full week as Director of the IBE I wanted to introduce myself. But first I want to pay tribute to our outgoing Director, Philippa Foster Back, who has done so much over the last twenty years to establish the institute as a respected and authoritative voice on business ethics. Many of you have sent your best wishes to Philippa and I know you will want to join me in saying a huge thank you and wishing her all the very best for the future. I am however so pleased that Philippa will continue to provide me and the institute with her support in a number of ways, not least by joining the IBE’s International Advisory Council.
Of course, these are unusual times to be taking over the leadership of an organisation and all the more challenging because I will be unable to get around to meet you, our supporters and partners, in person. But I have been fortunate to be able to make contact with a number of you via various forms of audio and video communications (even just on the phone!). And I hope to speak to more of you in the coming weeks.
I have already learned much about the way you operate and the challenges you face and particularly how you are tackling the many issues thrown up in your organisations by Coronavirus. I have been struck by how organisations with a clear values-based purpose are able to pivot and tilt their business model to adapt to the changed circumstances.
You have also been very complimentary about the IBE and the practical support it provides as a trusted adviser. I can promise you that the IBE will continue to provide that service in a practical way.
But any organisation has to move forward and I am very interested to hear your thoughts on what you want and expect from the institute in the years to come. The experience of the current crisis has shown that there is much we can do with technology to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge and we at the IBE will be looking at how we can develop our capability further in this area. But no doubt you will have your own views so please do feel free to drop me a note with any thoughts.
Finally, I would like to thank you for your continued support for the institute. These are difficult times for all of us, but it is important to keep focused on the things that matter, our underlying values and principles. We at the IBE will continue to do our best to support you in your endeavours to promote an ethics-based approach to business.
With best wishes,
Ian
Dr Ian Peters MBE
Director
Author
Dr Ian Peters MBE
Director
Ian Peters has been Director of the Institute of Business Ethics (IBE) since May 2020. In addition to leading the IBE’s team of researchers and advisers, Ian works with company boards and senior leadership to support them in promoting an ethical culture.
Ian serves on a number of external bodies including: the IoD Commission to develop a Code of Conduct for Directors, the CBI’s Culture Advisory Committee, the Financial Reporting Council Stakeholder Insight Group, the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment Integrity Committee and the University College London Centre for Ethics and Law Advisory Panel. He also chaired the Chartered Governance Institute’s Board Performance Review Working Group.
Previous appointments include Chair of the Independent Monitoring Panel of the UK Chartered Banker Professional Standards Board, member of the UK Regulatory Policy Committee and its predecessor, the Better Regulation Task Force, and member of the Court of the University of Lancaster.
Ian’s previous executive roles include Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (UK and Ireland,) Director of External Affairs at the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF), Deputy Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Head of SME Policy at the Confederation of British Industry, and a period in public relations for PR agency Burson-Marsteller.
He holds a PhD from Southampton University on the role of small businesses in economic growth and a BA in Geography from the University of Lancaster.
In 2015 Ian was awarded an MBE for services to regulatory reform in the UK.