Birmingham Forward chairman quits

THE chairman of Birmingham business and professional services organisation Birmingham Forward has announced his resignation just two months into his new role.

Graham Nicoll, regional head of Barclays Wealth in Birmingham, told members of the audience at last night’s (Monday) Roger Dickens lecture that he was relinquishing his post following a promotion at work.

He said that his new position would mean spending more time both in London and abroad and as such, he would not be able to devote the time necessary to maintain his position at the head of the body.

“I shall be sad to go but my new promotion means I will be spending more time away from the city and therefore it would be unfair for me to continue,” he said.

He has been succeeded by his former deputy chairman Jackie Hendley, a tax partner at KPMG in Birmingham.

Addressing the audience she said she was looking forward to her new position and urged delegates attending the lecture to follow the Birmingham Forward motto and connect with others wherever they could.

She also paid tribute to Mr Nicoll for his work during his time with the organisation.

“We’ll all be sorry to see him go but I’m sure he will remain an advocate for the city and promote it to everyone he meets both at home and abroad,” she said.

Ms Hendley, left, specialises in corporate tax, advising a wide range of clients on managing and structuring their tax liability, tax risk management, tax compliance and tax accounting.

Her clients range from owner-managed companies to large multi-national organisations across a wide range of industries.

She joined KPMG in 1990 before qualifying as a chartered tax adviser. She was appointed to partner in 2001.  

A finalist in Business Women of the Year in 2007, she is married with two children and is governor of Fairfax School in Sutton Coldfield.