Press Release

London, Wednesday 3rd June, 2026 - Ian Moore OBE, our CEO of nearly eleven years, has decided to step down with immediate effect due to another unfortunate bout of illness.  We all wish him well with a speedy recovery.  His decision to step down is testament to Ian’s whole attitude of putting the FIA first.

The Board stand firmly behind his decision and can reassure the FIA membership that in the interim the FIA team – under the guidance of our Chairman, Martin Watson and the day-to-day management of our COO, Andrew Ledgerton-Lynch, is in a strong position to continue meeting the objectives and needs of our members.  We will of course be looking at what this structurally means for the FIA, and the Board and leadership team will be working on this over the coming months.

Ian joined the FIA in 2015 to raise and expand our profile - to make the association a world class leader in raising the bar on professionalism within the fire safety industry.

During his term, membership has doubled, as have the number of people trained.  Our representation in British, European & International standards, and the volume of technical issues tackled has expanded and the FIA has successfully increased its influence with governments and other UK and European bodies.  The fire industry’s centre of excellence was created in Northwich to provide membership and training facilities in an exemplary sustainable building.  Even our AGM and Annual Lunch have doubled in size, becoming the "go-to" event of the year. Ian undoubtedly will thank the fantastic team at the FIA for delivering these achievements.

Added to this, Ian has personally been recognised with a number of fantastic achievement awards, culminating in him being awarded an OBE in His Majesty The King’s 2025 New Year Honours List for “outstanding services to the fire industry and public safety.”

From Ian Moore “It has been an absolute privilege to lead such a talented and committed team over the past decade. Together, we’ve achieved extraordinary progress, shaping the FIA into a highly respected source of professional advice, training, and influence across the industry. That reputation and impact will undoubtedly continue long after my departure. The organisation is in a strong position, supported by an experienced and dedicated board, and I have genuinely valued and enjoyed working alongside them.”

From Martin Watson, Chair of the FIA “Ian leaves the FIA in a significantly stronger position than when he joined. Under his leadership, we have seen remarkable growth in membership, training, and technical influence, alongside the creation of our Centre of Excellence in Northwich.

His contribution to both the FIA and the wider fire safety industry has been substantial, and we are grateful for his years of dedicated service. It has been a privilege to work alongside him, and on behalf of the Board I would like to sincerely thank him for everything he has achieved. We wish him all the very best for the future.”