British Mountaineering Council (BMC) Chair Roger Murray has announced that he will not seek re-election following the conclusion of his term at the end of November 2024.

Roger has been a member of the BMC for over thirty years and was part of the team that drove key organisational change following the 2018 AGM, before accepting the role of Chair in 2021. 

The BMC reports that Senior Independent Director John Willmott will take on the role of interim chair on December 1st, while recruitment for a successor will begin immediately with a new chair expected to be in position in January 2025.

A BMC statement reads:

"Roger has been a passionate advocate for the BMC, devoting extensive time and effort into this volunteer role. Over which period he has addressed the challenges presented by the legacy of COVID-19 pandemic, external economic and financial pressures across the organisation in 2023.

He has worked tirelessly with the board to navigate this turbulent period, bringing fresh talent into the organisation at all levels, playing an instrumental role in the appointment of Paul Ratcliffe as CEO. Under Paul's leadership there have been significant improvements, and as such Roger departs with the BMC in a more stable position.

Roger's work on the BMC's current strategy included focus on better working relationships with external stakeholders and partners, which has been vital as the BMC reinforces its position as leader and convener in the sector. He has also been vocal about the importance and value of the BMC's continued work across safety and conservation. An advocate for all disciplines across the organisation, he has championed support of our national teams across all areas seeing top GB performances at the sport's second Olympic Games, introduction of Paraclimbing into the LA2028 Paralympic schedule and the growing profile of Ice Climbing and Ski-mountaineering.

The BMC would like to extend its gratitude to Roger Murray for his leadership over the past three years and thanks him for his unwavering commitment and belief in the organisation and what it can achieve on behalf of its members and the entire community of hillwalkers, climbers and mountaineers."

BMC CEO Paul Ratcliffe said: "Roger has been instrumental in his support and guidance for me, firstly in my volunteer role as CCPG Chair and more recently in transitioning to the CEO position. "He has led the organisation through a very challenging period from a values-based perspective and with a passion and commitment to do his best for people that is deeply rooted in his love for mountaineering activities. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all the hard work, dedication and support."

On his time at the BMC, Roger said: "I am privileged to have met some great people and some mountaineering and sporting heroes and heroines during the past 6 years - within the staff, the volunteers and the wider mountain and elite sport sectors.

What has been achieved during the time that I have volunteered for the BMC has always been done with others - Directors, Staff, Councillors, volunteers or Partners.

I have learnt a lot about myself during these years and when I look back at why I volunteered and applied to become Chair of the Board, I have achieved the vast majority of my personal goals. The years as Chair have really reinforced to me that a successful organisation requires excellent people who behave well. The BMC should continue to aspire to develop and to benchmark and learn from high performance organisations outside of its sector to be the best it can be for the community. 

I am of the age when I and my friends went to the mountains and crags for adventure, fun and freedom. During my professional life I have been faced with the rapid professionalisation of all of our activities - we are not alone - what was acceptable when I set out into the mountains is no longer OK.

My wife and I voted with the majority at the 2018 AGM because, maybe sadly, there is no choice about what is expected of an organisation that represents and is responsible for people. Throughout my tenure as volunteer and latterly as Chair of the Board that tension between freedom and being professional continues and the next Chair will have to navigate the same Slackline between our desire to be free and being a professional organisation that supports its people, everyone working within the sector, and the dreams of the elite climbers. It is now time to make up for lost time in the mountains and have adventures with my friends and family."

Andy Syme, who was BMC president from 2021 until 2024 worked closely with Roger and praised his commitment to the role.

He said: "Since Roger first stood up at the 2018 AGM he has been a tireless and stalwart volunteer for the BMC. As Chair he has been faced with a number of problems each of which he has addressed professionally and with a level of dedication few volunteers have matched.

"I was particularly impressed with his constant and vocal support for maintaining our commitments to mountaineering; and his passion, ski mountaineering; in difficult times, but also the work he did in rebuilding and improving relationships with key sector partners.

"With more time to enjoy the mountains he will I'm sure be pleased to reflect he is leaving the BMC with far stronger foundations than he inherited, ensuring the issues discovered in 2023 cannot be repeated in the future and that the new CEO, whose appointment he led, will support his successor in ensuring the BMC remains a broad community of fellow enthusiasts."

Current BMC President, Dominic Oughton, thanked Roger for his work behind the scenes. He said: "Roger has been hugely helpful in supporting me in getting up to speed since my election at the AGM.

"Working closely with Roger over these last couple of months has brought home to me the vast amount of time and energy that he has contributed to this voluntary role as chair of the BMC."