The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has appointed Adrian Belton as its permanent chief executive, replacing interim CEO William Burton this April.
Belton is currently chief executive and accounting officer for the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) where he has worked since 2008 helping to develop and promote its growth strategy and deliver various efficiency improvements.
The CITB informed Construction News that Belton will earn a salary of £142,500, plus benefits, 35% less than Mark Fararr, the previous permanent chief executive who left the organisation in April 2013. He received a basic salary of £219,322, plus benefits.
In addition to salary, Belton’s package will include a performance bonus worth up to 15% of his salary, car allowance, Bupa membership and a pension scheme with a 24% contribution.
“What attracted to me to this job is the CITB’s pivotal role in the construction industry at a time of challenge and change for the industry; coupled with the potential to build on many of CITB’s strengths.”
Adrian Belton
An important part of his role will be to contribute to the second phase of the CITB’s triennial review, which is due to be concluded in June by BIS. All non-departmental public bodies have to go through similar assessments, looking at whether they should continue to exist and, if so, whether they are governed efficiently. BIS has already completed the first phase of the review.
Commenting on the appointment, CITB chairman James Wates said: “Adrian has proven experience in leading change and is motivated by success in building excellent organisations. Those are key attributes for CITB over the next few years… He impressed the nominations committee with his combination of relevant private and public sector experience and the way he has achieved success through leadership.”
Belton said: “I’m delighted and feel honoured to have been offered the opportunity to lead the CITB. 2014 marks its 50th anniversary but my brief is to deliver change that will equip the organisation for the next 50 years. What attracted to me to this job is the CITB’s pivotal role in the construction industry at a time of challenge and change for the industry; coupled with the potential to build on many of CITB’s strengths. I am also keen to play a key role in the government’s Industrial Strategy and I’m looking forward to meeting and working with colleagues, customers and partners of the CITB.”
Belton is a qualified banker with more than 25 years’ experience in two FTSE 100 financial service groups, one being Barclays. More recently he worked in the public sector, where he delivered a modernisation programme at Nottingham City Council and merged organisations to create two new public bodies, Natural England and Fera.
