Norris quits job after losing the power struggle at BHA
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by Miles Brignall
Steven Norris has quit his job as director general of the Road Haulage Association after losing a power struggle with the RIM chairman John Bridge.
Norris, who was already under pressure to step down after the RHA reported losses of half a million pounds in 1998, finally lost the support of the board of directors when he announced he is seeking the Conservative nomination to be Mayor of London.
Earlier this week the RHA issued a carefully worded statement claiming the board had agreed to release Norris from his contract "on mutually agreeable terms".
Originally Norris had said he would resign if his mayoral nomination were successful at the end of September.
The announcement ends months of speculation and one of the longest internal battles the RHA has seen. Bridge and two
other board members were understood to have become disenchanted with Norris'
performance long before the matter of the London Mayor's job had come up.
In the spring, the RHA published its 1998 annual report, which revealed a set of disastrous financial results. Under Norris' tenure, the association had recorded pretax losses of £635,000 for the year compared to a pre-tax profit of £123,000 in 1997. Although much of the loss was blamed on a decline in carnet income, some board members were already concerned for the association's financial future.
Under Norris the RHA had opened an expensive Westminster office and salaries had risen by almost £290,000 to £2,2m.
When the 1998 results were published there were reports that a number of the RHA's regional councils, including West Wales, were unhappy about the situation and rumours of dissatisfaction started to reach CM.
Many, including Fishguard haulier Martin Hall, felt Norris, who was paid around £130,000 a year, was failing to
deliver—especially as many of them were going out of business.
When he announced he would stand for London Mayor. even ex-chairman Bob McKinnon. who brought Norris to the RHA, was quoted as saying he felt it was time for him to move on. He paid tribute to Norris' part in raising the RHA's profile.
Although Norris defended his position, claiming he could continue to represent the association while campaigning in the evenings, the board decided enough was enough and unanimously agreed it was time he went. He will leave the RIM at the end of August.