The British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) has announced that its long-serving secretary-general, James Clark, will retire from his position at the end of 2020.

James Clark

After a successful career as a wheat buying director in the UK flour milling industry, Clark joined BITA in 1996. His tenure as secretary-general has coincided with significant growth for the trade association and seen it rise to a pre-eminent position as the voice of the materials handling industry.

During his career with BITA, Clark has worked with 10 presidents and been instrumental in firstly establishing and then developing IMHE Ltd, Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS) and, what is now, F-TEC, the industry training centre, based in Swindon. BITA has a 50% shareholding in all three organisations.

In 2019, Clark helped BITA strengthen its profile as the leading advocate for higher safety standards across the industry through the successful launch of National Forklift Safety Day in the UK.

Latterly, he has overseen the merger between BITA and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA), first announced at IMHX 2019. With 2021 seeing the launch of the new entity, his departure closes a final chapter in the history of BITA as it now looks to embark on a new era as an integral part of a new body that will shape future representation of the materials handling industry.

"I have had a good innings and, during my stay at the crease, have seen some major changes within the materials handling industry. Having overseen the merger process to a successful conclusion, I felt now was the right time to step down from my role and I wish the new entity every success," he says.

"I would like to thank everyone at BITA for their help and support down the years and to wish them all the best in the future."

Simon Barkworth, president of BITA, says: "James is a respected figure throughout the entire materials handling industry and, for many, has been the public face of BITA for more than two decades.

"On behalf of the BITA board, I would like to thank James for his contribution to the trade association and to the industry in general, and wish him well in what we all hope will be a long and happy retirement."

"We now look to build on the legacy James has helped to create and to ensure the new association fulfils the goal of BITA in lifting industry standards," he adds.