LONDON: Dr Diana Montgomery, who is currently the deputy chief executive at the Chemical Industries Association, has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Construction Products Association. She will take over from Michael Ankers who retires at the Association’s AGM in April.

Ms Montgomery graduated from Oxford University with a chemistry degree and was subsequently awarded a Doctor of Philosophy for her work on Environment and Waste Resources at the Imperial College, London. Before joining the CIA in 2006 she was Group Head of Environment at Centrica, and prior to that worked with the Automobile Association and Johnson Wax.

Commenting on the appointment, the Association’s chairman, Bill Bolsover, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to appoint such a strong candidate to take over as the Association’s chief executive. Diana brings a wealth of relevant experience to this role and we look forward to her leading the Association and taking forward the strategic development programme that we developed last year."

Ms Montgomery said of her appointment: "I am delighted to have this opportunity to lead the Construction Products Association and relish the prospect of representing the construction products community at a time of great economic challenge and opportunity. Its members have a vital role to play in leading and sustaining our country’s economic recovery and helping the government to deliver its low carbon strategy."