Funeral details announced for Richard Brennan

FUNERAL arrangements have been confirmed for the former chief executive of Birmingham Forward who died on Monday.

Richard Brennan had been battling prostate cancer for six months when he passed away on his 58th birthday at his home with his family beside him.

Born in Ireland, Mr Brennan moved to Birmingham in 1996, following spells in London and Hampshire, and took the job of managing director with management consultancy TMI UK.

In 2003, he set up his own management consultancy called Strategic Alliance, working with senior teams on strategic business planning.

Two years later Mr Brennan publicly resigned as a member of Birmingham Forward, criticising the lack of support for member firms but returned in February 2006 to accept an invitation to take over as chief executive when Simon Murphy stepped down.

He was part of the team which originally conceived and then delivered the third business improvement district for Birmingham and later took up the role of company secretary and non-executive director for Colmore Business District, in February 2009.

In addition to his role with Birmingham Forward, Mr Brennan was a trustee with the Barrow Cadbury Trust and chairman of a special interest group for SMEs with the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals.

He was also instrumental in the launch of the professional services hub West Midlands Knowledge and heavily involved with Birmingham Professional DiverCity – the group set up to promote equality and diversity.

He also sat on the West Midlands Council of Economic Advisors, the Regional Finance Forum and Business Voice West Midlands and a was keen sailor and traveller.

Mr Brennan is survived by his wife Grace and daughters Lise-Ann and Vicky.