Andrew Etherington, chairman of the UK&I arm of the FCSI, announced on Friday that its board had failed to reach an agreement to deliver a ‘strategic framework’ for its members and would launch a new British association next year.
In a statement, James H Petersen, interim president of FCSI World Wide, said: “First, please rest assured that no one is losing their FCSI membership, and the current situation is essentially an administrative change. This morning we had our first opportunity to review information that was circulated to the UK&I FCSI membership and reported in the press. This information does not represent FCSI, nor does it accurately relate the facts.
“It is important to understand that the UK&I leadership initiated this change when it unilaterally notified EAME several months ago that they were withdrawing from FCSI effective January 1, 2016.
“Attempts were made to resolve differences between UK&I and EAME, with a tentative “Heads of Terms” document prepared for signature by UK&I, EAME, and WW in late September. The World Wide board considered the document at their October meeting and found it was not an acceptable precedent to set for relationships between FCSI Local Units, Divisions, and World Wide. A motion was made and seconded that the FCSI World Wide Board not accept the proposed Heads of Terms, and the motion passed unanimously.
“Similarly, within the past few days, the EAME Board voted not to accept UK&I’s proposed retraction of their termination notice, by a vote of eight to two. As a result the UK&I local unit administrative function will end, as they requested and according to the timetable they set.
“The unsanctioned information that was circulated gives the impression that members must choose between FCSI and a nameless group that doesn’t currently exist – this is completely incorrect. All FCSI Members currently represented by UK&I will become “at large” members of EAME, with absolutely no lapse in status. Rumours that members will be unable to continue using the FCSI initials are simply wrong.
“We hope that any individuals who have expressed aspirations to attempt to create some sort of organization competing with FCSI in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and other areas in the region will reconsider, and focus their energy toward working with FCSI – EAME in continuing to strengthen the practice of food service consulting."